I Was Just Thinking About – DEVELOPING OR DEMOLISHING.
I like to begin my day by reading three different Devotionals. My first choice is usually, Get More Strength For The Journey by Joseph Stowell. Today’s Post is titled, “Point Of Contention.” The text used is Galatians 5:15, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
He goes on to write: “You don’t have to be a sociologist to know that one of the most damaging dynamics in personal relationships is unleashed by the hurtful things that we say to each other. We all have a dragon in our dentures that is flat out hard to get under control. Itemizing the major categories of destructive speech is not a hard task. Gossip, slander, and lying always make it to the top of our “most wanted” list of speech criminals. But there are some additional troublemakers lurking in the dark corners of our wicked little hearts. One of these stealth tigers in your tongue is contentious words…Contentious words…are the meat cleaver of relationships. They have the power to tear friends and family apart until there’s not much left. I suppose that’s why someone “who stirs up dissension among brothers makes the infamous list of things the Lord hates” (Proverbs 6:19). He adds: “Contentious hearts look for things to criticize and for opportunities to tear down a person, program, or idea. They destroy the essential commodities of happy and productive relationships. When we unleash a volley of contentious verbiage, things like trust, thinking the best of each other, and loving attitudes all get buried under our contentious words.”
Ask yourself: Is my best effort that of developing relationships and viable communication within and outside the body of Christ or demolishing those basics and essentials? Over the years of observing life both inside and outside the Church, there are times when it is difficult to discern the difference between the two. Some ego-driven individuals and those who have neglected to learn the merits of Biblical humility (of going unnoticed, without recognition, and rarely receiving any acclaim) will do whatever they deem essential to get their way regardless of the ancillary costs or reproach brought upon the name of Christ.
Is there ever a pause in one’s life that allows for prayerful reflection upon Ephesians 4:30-32 and those things which grieve the Spirit of God? Things such as, “bitterness, wrath, anger, brawling, slander, evil speaking and all malice.” The alternative is: “to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Questions: Are you willing to live your life God’s way or are you determined to do it your way (You may want read Isaiah 30 as you ponder your response)? What do you believe is the obvious and only Biblical choice? Will you commit to and comply to God’s Way for you?
Prayerfully – Consider these things with me!
I like to begin my day by reading three different Devotionals. My first choice is usually, Get More Strength For The Journey by Joseph Stowell. Today’s Post is titled, “Point Of Contention.” The text used is Galatians 5:15, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
He goes on to write: “You don’t have to be a sociologist to know that one of the most damaging dynamics in personal relationships is unleashed by the hurtful things that we say to each other. We all have a dragon in our dentures that is flat out hard to get under control. Itemizing the major categories of destructive speech is not a hard task. Gossip, slander, and lying always make it to the top of our “most wanted” list of speech criminals. But there are some additional troublemakers lurking in the dark corners of our wicked little hearts. One of these stealth tigers in your tongue is contentious words…Contentious words…are the meat cleaver of relationships. They have the power to tear friends and family apart until there’s not much left. I suppose that’s why someone “who stirs up dissension among brothers makes the infamous list of things the Lord hates” (Proverbs 6:19). He adds: “Contentious hearts look for things to criticize and for opportunities to tear down a person, program, or idea. They destroy the essential commodities of happy and productive relationships. When we unleash a volley of contentious verbiage, things like trust, thinking the best of each other, and loving attitudes all get buried under our contentious words.”
Ask yourself: Is my best effort that of developing relationships and viable communication within and outside the body of Christ or demolishing those basics and essentials? Over the years of observing life both inside and outside the Church, there are times when it is difficult to discern the difference between the two. Some ego-driven individuals and those who have neglected to learn the merits of Biblical humility (of going unnoticed, without recognition, and rarely receiving any acclaim) will do whatever they deem essential to get their way regardless of the ancillary costs or reproach brought upon the name of Christ.
Is there ever a pause in one’s life that allows for prayerful reflection upon Ephesians 4:30-32 and those things which grieve the Spirit of God? Things such as, “bitterness, wrath, anger, brawling, slander, evil speaking and all malice.” The alternative is: “to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Questions: Are you willing to live your life God’s way or are you determined to do it your way (You may want read Isaiah 30 as you ponder your response)? What do you believe is the obvious and only Biblical choice? Will you commit to and comply to God’s Way for you?
Prayerfully – Consider these things with me!
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