Break Those Sterotypes

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace, and as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Colossians 4:5-6

First impressions are lasting.  The Apostle Paul knew this that is why he advises us to think about how we treat those who we meet. 

We do not have to fake being kind because we are kind or at least we should be kind to everyone.  We do not have to agree with their life style or their behavior.  But we are acting as Christ’s ambassadors and therefore, if we practice engaging our brains before our mouths, we will do much to further the Gospel.

The next thing we know we will be hearing things like, “Wow, I thought Christians were kind of stuck on themselves and their little groups, but you, you are different.” 

It is your job to break those stereotypes.  Do it well and do it with kindness.

 

Slow Down

 

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20

For some of us, like me, we are quick to fire off our mouth when we hear something or see something we think is not right.  We get angry quickly and, sometimes this gets us in trouble.    

Knowing we are inclined to do this requires some extra effort on our part to remain silent and think before we speak. Mom's advice to count to ten before we speak is good advice.  For me, I count to 100, just to be safe.  This not to say we should not correct a wrong, but that we should choose our words wisely and stay on point.  

It is about recognizing that the righteous indignation of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  

When Christ Rules Our Hearts

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond in unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15

 

Wow!  We can chose to abandoned our grouchy nature and put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  

When we let Christ rule in our hearts, things happen that turn us around and reshape our attitudes and make us nicer people.    

Doubting? Doubt No More

 

But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.   So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.”  Then He said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.”

Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

John 20:24-29

We can understanding why some people have a difficult time believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world when we consider that Thomas, who was one of His disciples did not believe that the other Disciples had seen the resurrected Jesus.  

Thomas' doubts mirror what many people feel when the truth of the Gospel is presented.  They cannot see a purpose to it or a reason that they would want to ask Jesus to be their Lord, Master and Savior.  Their doubt is real. 

When I was a young adult, I had a friend who thought because I was "religious" I should become a nun.  I had shared the Gospel with her, but she did not get it and thought I was religious nut.  We lost contact and then years later, she called me and said that she had became a Christian and she knew what I meant about love of God.  

That being said, we should not put too much stock in those who reject our message because others will come along with the Gospel message and they may be receptive to it because those words we spoke to them have settled in their hearts.  

   

   

  

 

 

 

Just Like That The Wind and Waves Stopped

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”  So they launched out.

But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”  And, He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped and it became calm.

And He said to them, “Where is your faith?”  They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

Luke 8:22-25

 

The Disciples woke Jesus up to warn Him that the boat was going to sink and they were going to die.  What Jesus heard was a cry for help and He helped by rebuking the wind and waves and just like that the wind and waves stopped.

 

Even though the Disciples had witnessed Jesus perform many miracles, they were surprised that the wind and waves obeyed Him.    

 

This is the way it is for us.  We sometimes short change the power of God by thinking that God might not be interested in our prayer requests because they are too big or too small.  When the truth is that God is intimately acquainted with us and knows what we will ask Him before we even ask.  Just like the disciples on the boat when they woke Jesus up were not sure what He might do, we underestimate the power of God to answer our prayers.

 

And, what's more sometimes God's answer is more spectacular than anything we can imagine.  

 

Dare to pray big - take everything to God and see what happens.   

Oaks of Righteousness

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Isaiah was a prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus and His ministry.  His words here proclaim that Jesus will restore the brokenhearted, bring liberty to captives and prisoners, care for those who mourn, strength the weak and powerless, and bring the good news to all so they may become righteous in God's sight.  

Jesus read this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:18-19).

Even more important is that Jesus did all this and more.   

So, what has this to do with us?  It is model for our own ministries.  We can work on becoming more sensitive to the needs of those around us and showing compassion for their difficulties and celebrating their joys with them, all in the name of Jesus.  

And, by doing this and because of the power of God, people will find Jesus and become oaks of righteousness. 

Please Your Neighbor

 

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.   

 

For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."  

 

Romans 15:1-3

I think Paul was talking about helping others, even if we think they don't deserve help.

This means taking time to talk to someone who is having a tough time.  It is not for us to judge whether or not another person’s problems are of their own making or not, but rather a matter of showing compassion.

When we act with compassion, we build up the kingdom of God.