Proverbs 14:16
The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.
All rights reserved.
The late Paul Harvey used to end
his daily radio program with the words…”and now you know the rest of the
story.” In recent weeks, I have encountered more than one situation
where parties on either side didn’t have all the facts. Wrong
assumptions were made, and feelings were hurt – sometimes deeply.
Maybe this has happened to you, as well.
I’ve walked the aisles
of the grocery store in the last few weeks and met people who had no
clue what was happening in my life. I knew that. I was not offended
when they said, “How’s it going?” or “Have a great day!” They couldn’t
possibly know all that my family was experiencing. I did not know “the
rest of the story” when I was angered and insulted by the unprofessional
treatment I received a few months ago from someone who I later learned
had just received devastating news and was hurting deeply.
In the
throes of grief and suffering over the loss of a loved one, it is easy
for people to become upset with one another… even to hurl affronts and
untruths. When things are not going well at school, church, or among
friends, the facts can quickly become distorted – and tempers can flare,
resulting in hurt feelings that might never heal.
The point is
that this passage in Proverbs reminds us to take a step back, to avoid
retaliation - and watch our step. Often, it is wise to simply “chill
out” and let the dust settle a bit before we react. At best, we must
choose our words carefully…prayerfully…with the full wisdom of God
Almighty. We must ask Him to show us how to move forward…what to say
and do – and how we should not react and respond.
This is a
really big challenge…particularly when our feelings are “on our
sleeve,” our nerves are on edge, and we are stressed to the max. Have I
painted with a brush broad enough to include you yet?! Ask God to show
you when to stop, look and listen…when to pull back and take a deep
breath…and how to start moving forward again.
Headstrong and
reckless are not Godly qualities. If our goal is to be more like Him
every day, then these actions and behaviors have no place in our daily
living. Will you join me in the challenge to watch our steps and live
wisely…to honor God with our words, thoughts and actions each and every
day? Will you wait for “the rest of the story” before you react? And
will this be the day that you begin?
© Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label rest of the story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rest of the story. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 1, 2014
Luke 23:34-35
Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”
While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When Greg and I were in college, we used to sit in our car nearly every day and share a sandwich/potato chip lunch while listening to radio broadcaster Paul Harvey. There was something charming and compelling about Harvey’s delivery. His “hook” was to tell part of an interesting story, then break for a commercial… and then he would return to finish his tale. At the end he would say, “And now you know the rest of the story.” Harvey became famous for “the rest of the story!” and even wrote a book by this title.
So often in life, there is a “rest of the story”… and many times, we react without getting it! Our thoughts, comments and judgments are erroneous, harsh – even cruel at times – because we have failed to consider that there may be more going on with the other guy. We might not have the full picture. Even more importantly, we neglect to recognize that GOD is the only true judge…that this is not our place to draw conclusions. We are to act – and react – with compassion…to offer the same grace, mercy, forgiveness and understanding to others that Jesus offered his abusers - even on the cross and as they gambled for his clothing.
Tall order? Maybe! But when you consider what Jesus did for us… how HE responded to his assailants…any leniency and benefit of the doubt that we offer to others pales by comparison.
I know that people say and do ugly and hurtful things. I know that we are all judged unfairly and treated unkindly at one time or another. I know that it sometimes seems like “life” knocks us down and drags us through the mud. But if Jesus can hang naked and disfigured on a cross and ask God to forgive those who have desolated Him, can’t we surely offer compassion and charity to those who mistreat us?
Today we begin a new year… we turn the page on the calendar and start with a “clean slate”. Isn’t this the perfect day to resolve to be more empathetic… to show more compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness to others? I’m ready to stop giving the devil a victory by holding grudges, harboring insults and judging others…I’m ready to be more like Jesus and operate in a spirit of kindheartedness and tolerance of others. I’m ready to recognize that there might very well be a “rest of the story” and offer others a hefty dose of the same mercy Jesus offers to each of us. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”
While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When Greg and I were in college, we used to sit in our car nearly every day and share a sandwich/potato chip lunch while listening to radio broadcaster Paul Harvey. There was something charming and compelling about Harvey’s delivery. His “hook” was to tell part of an interesting story, then break for a commercial… and then he would return to finish his tale. At the end he would say, “And now you know the rest of the story.” Harvey became famous for “the rest of the story!” and even wrote a book by this title.
So often in life, there is a “rest of the story”… and many times, we react without getting it! Our thoughts, comments and judgments are erroneous, harsh – even cruel at times – because we have failed to consider that there may be more going on with the other guy. We might not have the full picture. Even more importantly, we neglect to recognize that GOD is the only true judge…that this is not our place to draw conclusions. We are to act – and react – with compassion…to offer the same grace, mercy, forgiveness and understanding to others that Jesus offered his abusers - even on the cross and as they gambled for his clothing.
Tall order? Maybe! But when you consider what Jesus did for us… how HE responded to his assailants…any leniency and benefit of the doubt that we offer to others pales by comparison.
I know that people say and do ugly and hurtful things. I know that we are all judged unfairly and treated unkindly at one time or another. I know that it sometimes seems like “life” knocks us down and drags us through the mud. But if Jesus can hang naked and disfigured on a cross and ask God to forgive those who have desolated Him, can’t we surely offer compassion and charity to those who mistreat us?
Today we begin a new year… we turn the page on the calendar and start with a “clean slate”. Isn’t this the perfect day to resolve to be more empathetic… to show more compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness to others? I’m ready to stop giving the devil a victory by holding grudges, harboring insults and judging others…I’m ready to be more like Jesus and operate in a spirit of kindheartedness and tolerance of others. I’m ready to recognize that there might very well be a “rest of the story” and offer others a hefty dose of the same mercy Jesus offers to each of us. What about you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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