E-Devotion from Wednesday, July 19, 2006 ... posted late
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1 (NASB)
A wise person taught me a lesson recently as I heard him speak about conflict. He said, "you cannot argue with a whisper." Therefore, keep your voice at a level and tone of conversation so fusing won't begin.
That makes sense. In fact, I believe the Lord is calling us as His kids to be people who are consistent with the way we deal with others. But we all makes mistakes. It may be in fighting with someone at school or with our spouse or yelling at the kids. No matter the case, God teaches us to be careful in every situation we find ourselves.
Take this test.
"With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 3:9-10 (NASB)
I know the old cliche ... WWJD ... "What Would Jesus DO" (my mom is it is actually 'what would Judy do). Yet that is a question so vital to our being light in this dark world. We are not perfect will mess up from time to time. The way we respond to others must be like Jesus would.
A dear missionary and friend made a commitment to his wife when he got saved. His commitment was to only say things to his wife that Jesus would say and be pleased with. Did this guy ever mess up. You bet he has, but he has stuck to his commitment by asking forgiveness when he was wrong and seeking to treat his precious wife like Jesus would.
As I close this e-mail, I note for us some verses that teach us about Jesus and how he treated others:
Jesus said, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea." Mark
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped , but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB)
"...But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth." Isaiah 53:6-7 (NASB)
"When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." Luke 12:11-12 (NASB)
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