Beneath the SurfaceSample

In the old days, sailors flew flags from their ships to let each other know who they were, kind of like how football players dress in different uniforms so they can tell each other apart on the field. Ship captains would design their own personal flag to say something about themselves, like what country they were from or who their families were.

Usually, a ship flag was a helpful way of identifying a potential friend out on the lonely ocean. But if that ship flag was black with a white skull on it . . . forget it! That was the symbol of a pirate ship, and a warning to other ships to either surrender or prepare for trouble.

Unfortunately, most people in our own lives don't exactly fly a flag to let you know what kind of friend they're going to be. We have to figure that out on our own. But the Bible does give some advice about what to look for in a potential friend.

Today's Scripture is about the words people use. The things other people say can be helpful, kind, and wise. But they can also be hurtful, deceitful, or manipulative. Words are like the flags on ships. They tell us a lot about the person who says them, and often, words help us identify if someone is going to be a good or bad influence in our life. If we learn to pay attention to these verbal flags, they will help us make wise choices when it comes to forming friendships.