“Speak softly so you don’t choke” is good advice to go with the centuries old proverbial warning about having to “eat your words.” It's also one most, if not all of us have ignored to our shame and embarrassment. Probably every single one of us has made bold declarations about what we would or wouldn't do only to fail glaringly. How we handle our failure (or failures) is an indicator of the strength of our character. We should choke them down even when they're tough, but sometimes the boldness of our initial declaration leaves us feeling backed into a corner with no way out but to fight. That’s just foolish pride. An angry excuse laden defense of our indefensible conduct proclaims a weak prideful heart while admission and submission to the humiliation indicates a strong humble heart.

During the period of the Judges the sons of Gilead had made a bold declaration about an illegitimate brother named Jephthah. It appears he was the firstborn son, but his mother was a harlot. So when the legitimate sons grew up they joined together and drove him away from the family. They ran him out of town boldly declaring; “You will not inherit in our father’s house. You’re the son of another woman.” (Judges 11:1-2). They told him didn’t they? Sometime later they were served a heaping plate of their own words to eat. The city was under threat of war by the Ammonites and to whom did they turn for leadership – Jephthah (Judges 11:4-11)

Perhaps some of those brothers were in the delegation that asked him for help. That might explain the sharpness of his answer (Judges 11:7). However they may have felt about him personally they knew they needed him because he had grown up on his own and had become a fighter and a battle leader (Judges 11:3). So they swallowed their pride, and their words, and choked out an admission that they needed him to lead in battle and agreed to serve him (Judges 11:8-11).

When it comes to serving God who among us needs to swallow our prideful words and ask God to forgive and lead us? Simple – all of us. In other words, anyone who wants to be a Christian! Do you want to know where to start? It begins with repentance and baptism. And please don't say “I don't have to be baptized, I'm already saved.” It would be awful to choke on those words of rebellion at judgment.