Ephesians 4:25-27
What this adds up to, then, is
this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In
Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie
to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Go ahead and be angry.
You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge.
And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that
kind of foothold in your life.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
My
mother always taught me that “if you can’t say something nice, don’t
say anything at all.” At the other end of the spectrum, my Mam-ma Polly
frequently seemed to operate more in the “speak your mind now and worry
about the consequences later” mode. And I think there is room for a
healthy balance between these two stances.
I try to be very fair
and balanced with others…particularly as I write these devotionals. I
understand that not all people believe as I do on a variety of
subjects…and that’s okay. But I have found that often, when we sit
quietly on the sidelines, others wrongly assume that we believe exactly
as they do…and that we fully support their expressed opinions. And this
can be hurtful to everyone.
A few weeks ago, I was attending a
meeting in which some comments were made that deeply wounded several
people…including me. The persons who made them initially assumed that
everyone in the room felt as they did…so they “went at it” with wild
abandon. I’ll admit…I initially willed myself to stay quiet. But then
another lady spoke up and explained why she disagreed with what was
said…and one by one, more of us spoke up and expressed our feelings. I
wish I could say this made a difference…that the ugly talk was stifled.
But it wasn’t…and some of us came away more offended than anything
else…but yes, we were angry, too.
The anger and
disappointment affected me in a profound way…but I did not seek revenge.
I prayed…a lot. I asked God to show me how to overcome my feelings of
resentment toward those who spoke their own truth…to keep me from
allowing the devil to have the last laugh in this. And He has done
this. I am at a calm and peaceful place where I can actually encounter
these people and not feel antagonistic – or even judgmental of them. I
didn’t come to this resolution overnight, but I am grateful that God has
begun to heal my heart.
I am also glad that I spoke out.
Otherwise, I think I would have always felt a little ashamed…like I was
living a lie by allowing others to assume that I agreed with them on
this issue. And I’ll admit…speaking honestly about my views on several
political and social issues has “cost” me some friendships...or at least
greatly changed how we interact and the frequency of our contacts. And
that is unfortunate…but also freeing. Let’s be honest…living a lie
takes its toll.
I hope and pray that I am never judgmental or
rude…that I don’t “speak my mind” to someone in such a way as to anger
or offend them. By remaining truthful, I trust that God will bless my
efforts and soften the ears of those who hear my words, so that they
accept them – and me – in the spirit of Christian brotherhood and
sisterhood. I’ve tried to “sugarcoat the truth” before in an effort to
spare another person’s feelings. And I can tell you, when this
backfires (and it often does), it’s a royal disaster!
At the end
of the day, our only responsibility is to please God…and remaining
truthful honors our commitment to Him. By seeking His wisdom and
guidance as we speak the truth, we demonstrate our faith in Him to
handle how our words are received…and put the devil in his place
simultaneously! Honesty IS the best policy! How truthful are you being
these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label distorting the truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label distorting the truth. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2015
Galatians 1:6-9
I can’t believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I read an amazing story in the newspaper about a man in Ogden, Utah, who brought home some oversized cardboard boxes from his work at a florist and created an elaborate castle-like “fort” in the front yard for his two toddler children to enjoy. The fort had molded walls - and two towers tall enough for adults to stand up in them…and Jeremy Trentelman added a slide to one side. This was not your childhood “refrigerator-box house” project…this was an architectural marvel!
Impressive structure or not, this cardboard playhouse violated city code for “waste material or junk” in the yard, and Trentelman was presented with a notice to remove it within a set number of days – or pay a $125 fine to the city! This father took his story to Facebook and pled his case, questioning why a “totally awesome fun zone” was deemed such an affront to the city.
What resulted was anything but what Trentelman expected. His post was shared more than 1,000 times in 24 hours and went viral. BUT…along the way, it got distorted…and soon, the “story” was that police showed up at the house with guns blazing, the city tore down the fort, and a judge ordered the structure to be demolished. This was the whole “what-is-this-world-coming-to?” mentality with a hefty dose of “let’s-blame-the-government” thrown in for good measure.
Trentelman was contacted – and interviewed - by all of the major media outlets, and his home city of Ogden and its officials were made out to be a hot spot for “yahoos”. This was not at all what Trentelman intended, and try as he might to stop this “crazy train”, the story steamrolled into a larger-than-life saga of civil obedience and mistreatment of the common man.
Ultimately, Trentelman and his wife and children accepted the invitation of Fox News to travel to New York City to construct another “fort” on the streets of Manhattan. HIS hope was to be able to tell the REAL story and squelch all of the rumors and hysteria. While the family was in New York, a torrential rain reduced their Utah “castle” to pulp, and it was hauled away by friends.
As soon as I read today’s scripture passage, I was reminded of this story. We do this almost every single day with the message of Jesus Christ. From blaming God for natural disasters and epidemic outbreaks…to claiming that the government is taking prayer out of school... to a virtual firestorm over Pepsi® removing the words “under God” from the printing of America’s Pledge of Allegiance on their beverage cans…we have collectively provoked agitation and totally turned the message of Jesus Christ on its head!
We have made “Christian faith” completely about US and OUR agenda…and totally taken Jesus out of it. The Savior who taught us how to pray never said we had to make this a public spectacle in order to be His children and gain entrance into Heaven. I seriously doubt God cares one whit about being mentioned in our pledge of allegiance to a country…much less whether He gets a “plug” on a soft drink can. I have to think that God hangs His head in shame at the suggestion that He would cause innocent people to suffer horrendous tragedies because the sin of a single person. If this is the case, why did Jesus die on the cross for us?
Again, we have made this all about our agenda…and God can’t possibly be pleased – much less honored and glorified. It’s time to take a unified breath and chill out! We’ve put so many “city ordinances” and restrictions on our faith and Jesus’ message that we cannot find the pure joy of a “corrugated cardboard castle” suitable for toddlers of all ages! We must get back in God’s word and figure out what He wants us to say and do as Jesus’ disciples. It’s really pretty simple…love God with all our heart, mind and soul…and love one another. Minister to each other in the name of Jesus – and with His unconditional love…and leave room for Him to do the heavy lifting and the complicated work of miracles, healing, and salvation.
It’s time for us to run like the wind from those who would dare to suggest that WE need to say and do more…that in some way WE have any real power or control in matters of faith. Someone IS out to get us…but it’s not the government! If we stay in the word and will of Jesus and follow HIS message, we have nothing to fear. He is building us the ultimate “castle” in Heaven. Our job is to make sure we - and others - get there!
©2015 Debbie Robus
I can’t believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I read an amazing story in the newspaper about a man in Ogden, Utah, who brought home some oversized cardboard boxes from his work at a florist and created an elaborate castle-like “fort” in the front yard for his two toddler children to enjoy. The fort had molded walls - and two towers tall enough for adults to stand up in them…and Jeremy Trentelman added a slide to one side. This was not your childhood “refrigerator-box house” project…this was an architectural marvel!
Impressive structure or not, this cardboard playhouse violated city code for “waste material or junk” in the yard, and Trentelman was presented with a notice to remove it within a set number of days – or pay a $125 fine to the city! This father took his story to Facebook and pled his case, questioning why a “totally awesome fun zone” was deemed such an affront to the city.
What resulted was anything but what Trentelman expected. His post was shared more than 1,000 times in 24 hours and went viral. BUT…along the way, it got distorted…and soon, the “story” was that police showed up at the house with guns blazing, the city tore down the fort, and a judge ordered the structure to be demolished. This was the whole “what-is-this-world-coming-to?” mentality with a hefty dose of “let’s-blame-the-government” thrown in for good measure.
Trentelman was contacted – and interviewed - by all of the major media outlets, and his home city of Ogden and its officials were made out to be a hot spot for “yahoos”. This was not at all what Trentelman intended, and try as he might to stop this “crazy train”, the story steamrolled into a larger-than-life saga of civil obedience and mistreatment of the common man.
Ultimately, Trentelman and his wife and children accepted the invitation of Fox News to travel to New York City to construct another “fort” on the streets of Manhattan. HIS hope was to be able to tell the REAL story and squelch all of the rumors and hysteria. While the family was in New York, a torrential rain reduced their Utah “castle” to pulp, and it was hauled away by friends.
As soon as I read today’s scripture passage, I was reminded of this story. We do this almost every single day with the message of Jesus Christ. From blaming God for natural disasters and epidemic outbreaks…to claiming that the government is taking prayer out of school... to a virtual firestorm over Pepsi® removing the words “under God” from the printing of America’s Pledge of Allegiance on their beverage cans…we have collectively provoked agitation and totally turned the message of Jesus Christ on its head!
We have made “Christian faith” completely about US and OUR agenda…and totally taken Jesus out of it. The Savior who taught us how to pray never said we had to make this a public spectacle in order to be His children and gain entrance into Heaven. I seriously doubt God cares one whit about being mentioned in our pledge of allegiance to a country…much less whether He gets a “plug” on a soft drink can. I have to think that God hangs His head in shame at the suggestion that He would cause innocent people to suffer horrendous tragedies because the sin of a single person. If this is the case, why did Jesus die on the cross for us?
Again, we have made this all about our agenda…and God can’t possibly be pleased – much less honored and glorified. It’s time to take a unified breath and chill out! We’ve put so many “city ordinances” and restrictions on our faith and Jesus’ message that we cannot find the pure joy of a “corrugated cardboard castle” suitable for toddlers of all ages! We must get back in God’s word and figure out what He wants us to say and do as Jesus’ disciples. It’s really pretty simple…love God with all our heart, mind and soul…and love one another. Minister to each other in the name of Jesus – and with His unconditional love…and leave room for Him to do the heavy lifting and the complicated work of miracles, healing, and salvation.
It’s time for us to run like the wind from those who would dare to suggest that WE need to say and do more…that in some way WE have any real power or control in matters of faith. Someone IS out to get us…but it’s not the government! If we stay in the word and will of Jesus and follow HIS message, we have nothing to fear. He is building us the ultimate “castle” in Heaven. Our job is to make sure we - and others - get there!
©2015 Debbie Robus
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