BEWARE OF DECEPTIVE WORDS by Robert Soto

BEWARE OF DECEPTIVE WORDS by Robert Soto

February 26, 2010

Matthew 16:6 "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

It's hard to trust a snake when you know that the snake is out to get you. It's hard to trust a mountain lion when you know that it might be lurking around trying to destroy you. Surely you will not dance hand in hand with a wild grizzly bear. Wild animals have one thing in common - their desire for survival. They will do whatever it takes to survive. So based on their instinct and reactions, one would not tend to trust them. To our people, history has proven that the things that were promised to us were not kept. It seemed that our history tells us that they had one thing in mind, to steal whatever we had that they wanted. It seemed to be a repetitive understanding that our people could not trust them. Geronimo understood this truth so when General Miles promised the world, he found it hard to believe. Geronimo told him, "All the officers that have been in charge of the Indians have talked that way, and it sounds like a story to me; I hardly believe you." To that General Miles responded, "This time it is the truth."

Geronimo took the words of a white man that day and even though he found it hard to believe, he decided to trust them one more time. But how many times can a man trust the words of another who has a history of broken promises? Many have told me many times over to forgive, forget and move on. I have forgiven and I have moved on, but forgetting, I find hard. I remember the first time I got bit by an alligator. My first bite came when I dropped my guard and forgot that the alligator I had in my hands was not my friend. It was then that it opened its mouth and not being able to move my hand fast enough, two of my fingers fell victim to his mouth and received deep wounds. For the next three years, I learned my lesson, never to drop my guard and never to trust an alligator. It is not a matter of trust, it is a matter of wisdom. God the Creator wants us to use the wisdom He has given us so that we can learn from the past and not forget. Forgive I can do. Move on I have done plenty of times. But forget, I cannot do. "Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Beware of those who say one thing with their mouths, but do not practice what they preach. By the way, General Miles forgot his words once he got what he wanted.

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church