The Shapeshifter

 “His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.” 

 Psalm 55:21 (NIV) 

    There are a lot of science fiction movies that have a central character known as a “shapeshifter.” That term is used  to identify a person or being with the ability to change their physical form at will. My husband met one at his business several years ago.

    For 20 years he worked as manager of a propane company in our town. And for most of those 20 years he truly loved his job. Except the day a man who was unhappy with the price of propane stomped into his office.

    He had concluded that somehow my husband was the one who set the propane prices for Missouri. No explanation would satisfy the gentleman who had already made up his mind where to place the blame – and his anger. 

   For almost 30 minutes this man accused my husband of everything from pushing up the propane prices to create more profit for the store to writing sales receipts that were altered. His side of the conversation was laced with profanity directed toward the propane business, the secretary at her desk and my husband and they were relieved when he finally decided to leave the store. 

    I knew none of this until the following Sunday, when we decided to visit a different church in the area. We both heard a “Welcome, welcome to our church, brother,” and turned to see a gentleman smiling as he grabbed my husband’s hand to shake it, slapped his back with the other and commented “It’s good to see you here, brother! God is good! Praise the Lord” and walked on to talk to some other people.

   “What a nice Christian man,” I glanced at my husband. He just raised his eyebrows and quietly replied “No. No, he’s not.” Only later did I find out how this man had treated him just days before at his business. I was stunned. A man who professed to be a Christian, using God’s name in profanity on Thursday and praising His name on Sunday. 

   In Psalm 55:21, David completely understood the two faces of man. He writes “His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.” In today’s language, we would call him a “shapeshifter” because, although his physical shape doesn’t change, the content of his heart does.

    I cannot read this Scripture without applying it to my life. Have I been guilty of saying one thing and turning around and doing or saying the opposite? Have you? How about complimenting a fellow worker on her outfit and then the minute she walks away, remarking how out-of-style she looks

    Or perhaps laughing at inappropriate language in a conversation – language that we wouldn’t think of using OR laughing at with our Christian friends? Are we the same in church and out of church?  Never forget to guard your heart, so no one can ever accuse you of being a “shapeshifter.” 

   Father, thank you for Psalm 19:14. I pray that my words and my heart will be pleasing to you no matter where I am. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Can you think of a time when your actions or words were completely opposite of your actions or words in church or with Christian friends?

• If your answer is yes, why do you think you acted that way?

Apply

• Journal conversations that you have had for the past week. Do you recognize language or actions that are totally opposite of Christ-like behavior?

• Memorize Psalm 19:14. Write the Scripture on a note card and keep it on your desk at work, by your kitchen sink or wherever you will see it most often. 

Power

• Psalm 55:21 (NIV) “His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.”  

• Psalm 28:3 (NIV) “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors bur harbor malice in their hearts.” 

• Psalm 19:14 (NIV) “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”