A “tell” in poker is a "change in one’s behavior or demeanor" based on the cards. For example, if a player is dealt pocket aces (2 aces) and then the flop (1st 3 community cards placed on the table) also has 2 aces, their face may light up or they might raise an eyebrow, etc. On the flip side, if after a good amount of betting, they are unsure of their hand, they may bite their lip or rub their eyes. A skilled poker player will learn to both control their own tells and read those of their opponents’. Ok, hold that thought.

The Christian walk is one that occurs on a “fine line”. Now that we have been saved from eternal damnation and adopted into God’s family (1 John 3:1-2), we are called to live in a way that reflects His righteousness in thought, word, and deed.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

This calling is not just for when we attend church on Sundays or even just when we are around other people. This is a 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year, until death calling. To be honest, I believe it is what we do when we are alone that truly makes us who we are; we reap what we sow, remember (Galatians 6:7-9). If we use our down time for righteousness (we pray, read our Bibles, think on His Word, listen to Bible lessons, look for ways to serve others, etc.), then we will reap righteousness in our lives. If we, instead, use this time for unrighteousness (anything that is not of or for God), we then will reap unrighteousness. What we reap becomes obvious to self and others, just like fruit on a tree.

Matthew 7:17-20  “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

Though, in context, this is referring to true vs false prophets (believers vs unbelievers), it also has a practical application to our daily lives, with this good and bad “fruit” becoming our personal “tells” of either righteous or unrighteous living. I will share with you one of my “bad” tells, so you may see what I am getting at. When I allow the details of life to distract me, there is always at least one quite predictable result. I start turning to the world for my entertainment and “relaxation” and I do so by opening up a book, but not the Good One, sadly. I look for and find sci-fi/fantasy books to escape into. The results, not surprisingly, being unholy thoughts and emotions which take my distraction into full-blown rejection of God’s will. Hours wasted reading unholy stories with no eternal value. Then, “all of a sudden”, I realize that I have zero peace and I am downright miserable. Ugh, right?

So, what are your unrighteous tells? What are those habits and behaviors that you slip back into when your eyes are off of the Lord? Only you and the Lord (and maybe those you live with) can answer that. It is important for all of us to both recognize and acknowledge them. If we do, then they will become flashing lights warning us that we are headed in the wrong direction. We will all fail at times and wander away from the righteous path, this is inevitable (Proverbs 24:16), but may we stop ignoring these tells and listen to what God is “telling” us!

P.S. Never forget the importance of also recognizing and acknowledging our righteous tells; for example, the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the manifestation of His love in our lives (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

P.P.S. I am currently listening to a 22 part series taught by my Pastor titled, “Undistracted Devotion to the Lord” http://www.pastoredcollins.org/view/?permalink=undistracted-devotion-to-the-lord. He describes how, as we become distracted, “cracks” appear in our relationship with God. We then fill these cracks with the things of the world. As they increase in size, so does the distance between us and the Lord. Great visual, huh? Anyway, I encourage you to give it a listen, it may be the kick in the bum you need! It certainly was for me.

1 Corinthians 7:35 “I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”