Proverbs 15:1
A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Dallas
Police - and the country at large - are dealing with the aftermath of
the
heinous murder of 5 officers and the injury of 7 other people on July
7th. Today, warnings emerged that forced the Dallas Police Department
headquarters to go on
“lockdown” and search nearby buildings. People were beginning to come
together to honor the memory of those killed and to show support for the
injured. Kind words were being offered on all sides. Surely the
potential of this new threat had to stir up the feelings of fear, anger
and frustration that were tantamount just two nights ago.
If you
have ever watched young children at play, you know that one child can
take a toy from another…and ugly words and actions can ensue. Either an
adult can step in to moderate…or the children can resolve this conflict
on their own. A moment later, another child can dredge up the incident
or “stir the pot” with an unkind word or gesture…and “WWIII” erupts all
over again!
A friend can speak kindly to you…offer you words of
encouragement and make you feel good about yourself. And then he/she
can turn around and post something derogatory or hateful on social
media…share an off-color or racist joke in a group within your
earshot…or speak unkindly of someone else to you…and your total opinion
of that person changes. I have been incredibly disappointed by the words
and actions of people I thought were kind, Godly individuals. And I’ll tell you…sometimes, it has permanently colored my opinion of them.
It
should come as no surprise to us that people are watching and
listening…and that what we say and do matters. But some of us have a
hard time holding our tongue and refraining from sharing our thoughts
and opinions – even when we know what we are about to say or do will be
hurtful to others. We need to understand that we often get one shot at
getting this right…that the opinion others form of us happens in a few
brief seconds. And quite frequently, those telling moments determine
whether we represent Jesus and offer others a Savior they would like to
follow and emulate…or we totally negate our Christian witness.
I
recently read an opinion editorial about political candidates and how
people on both sides call them names and speak of them in a disparaging
and derogatory manner. The suggestion was made that when we are told by
the Chevy salesmen how bad the Fords are (or vice versa), we often are
left feeling badly about both – and often seek to either buy something
altogether different…or go home empty-handed. If we put this in a
Christian perspective, when we talk unkindly to someone – or about them –
we give others the impression that there is an ugly side to serving
Jesus. And sometimes, this might be enough to turn these people away
forever…to steer them in the direction of another “god” or idol - or
toward the devil himself.
Surely this is not what we want. I
know it is definitely not what Jesus wants! We simply MUST start
guarding our thoughts, words and actions. We must focus on Jesus to the
point that we automatically run everything by Him before we speak or
act. We must become so in tune with Jesus - and innately cautious -
that it is virtually impossible to stir up trouble or embarrassment as
His representatives. And we have to start now.
Let’s start by
praying for all people involved in the terrible tragedies of recent days
across our nation. Let’s talk to God about how we characterize
others…the language we use as we speak of them to others – and the
attitude we convey. Let’s ask Him to guard our hearts – and our words
and deeds – and guide us as His disciples, so that we leave others
saying, “I want to serve Jesus, too!”
Jesus was bruised, beaten,
spit upon – and crucified. Yet His words were always kind and
soothing. He never spoke harshly to others…so why on earth should we?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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