1 Peter 3:8-12
Summing up: Be agreeable, be
sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all
of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm.
Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also
get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
Lots
of nights, Greg and I settle in to watch the 10:00 p.m. news broadcast,
and we ask each other, “What is your day like tomorrow?” Sometimes, we
have no concrete plans...other days are chock-full of activities and a
mile-long “to-do” list. Mondays are often busy for Greg...he delivers
Meals on Wheels and has lunch with his mom...and sometimes he runs
errands for her or helps her with a project – or he works in her yard.
Mondays are often cleaning days for me...both household chores and
laundry duty! But sometimes, we have no clue what the day will
bring...or who we will encounter or what activities will present
themselves. And we know that “life” is subject to change, so we try to
always be flexible.
I will tell you, I don’t know anyone who is
more appreciative of my efforts than my husband. He always thanks me
for clean laundry, hot meals, and the things I do around the house. And
I try to express my appreciation for HIS efforts too...how well he
manages our bills and finances, takes care of the maintenance and upkeep
of our house, yard and vehicles - and all of the countless things he
does for our nieces and nephews and me! We are blessed by his
efforts, and I know it! I will also be the first to say that Greg does a
better job of “living agreeably” than I do. He is more thoughtful and
careful about his words...and rarely - if ever - offers sarcasm or a
retaliatory comment to anyone. He operates so fully in grace and
mercy...and others notice!
I was struck by a couple of sentences
in this scripture passage...particularly the one that talked about no
retaliation or sarcasm...and especially when Peter says,
“...bless...that’s your job, to bless”! So whether I am folding
our laundry or responding to e-mail messages, I am to bless. Whether
Greg is mowing the yard, washing our car, or delivering a hot meal to a
homebound elderly person, he is to bless. Whether you are sitting in a
classroom amongst your peers or working at a summer job, staying at home
all day with babies and toddlers, working at a job you don’t
particularly enjoy, or living alone as a single senior, your job is to
bless – however, wherever, and whenever you can.
If we focused on
just this one phrase, imagine how our lives could change. If we
reminded ourselves that we were to bless others and be a blessing to
them in every situation, our language, thought process and actions would
surely change in many instances. If we responded to others totally in
the context of how we could bless them, rather than raise our hackles
over their demeanor, words or actions, we might see amazing, unexpected
changes. And truthfully, it doesn’t matter how they respond, as long as
we are obediently serving God by blessing them in His name. I’m not
talking about becoming doormats for others’ abuse...I’m talking about
showing them grace, mercy, humility and compassion in the name of Jesus.
So
let’s see where this takes us. Let’s start here...now...today...and
make our primary focus – our main job – to bless. Let’s embrace life
and see the day fill up with good. Let’s avoid hurtful talk and
actions, snub evil, and run after peace for all we are worth...and let’s
let God handle the rest! If we start looking at every day, ordinary
activities as opportunities to bless others in Jesus’ name, the
possibilities are absolutely endless...and so are the potential rewards –
for everyone involved. Whaddya say? Are you with me?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label sarcasm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sarcasm. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 11, 2013
1 Peter 3:10
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
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.
You never know what children – or old people – will say! My Mam-ma Polly, who weighed in at a petite less-than-120 pounds, had a fixation with the weight of other people… and she often spoke about it! I will never forget taking her to a birthday luncheon. The grandson of one of her dear friends hugged her and paid her a big compliment about how pretty she looked…and she replied, “Well, I haven’t seen you since you got so fat!” I wanted the floor to swallow me! This came so naturally to my grandmother that she didn’t even blink. And because she was almost 100 years old, she was forgiven… excused…and people chalked such comments up to her age and secretly assumed that perhaps she was becoming a little senile. This was not the case… my grandmother remained sharp as a tack to virtually her dying day! Anyone who really knew my grandmother knew that she always spoke her mind… although this certainly did not improve with age!
I do not mean to belittle my grandmother – or to criticize her. She was who she was… and she was a blessing to more people that we could begin to count. And that’s my point… any one of us can be guilty of this type of behavior at any moment! I wonder… how many of us are speaking without thinking on a daily basis. How often do we make a critical or snarky comment – maybe in an attempt to be funny – with little to no regard for how these words will affect the other guy? When was the last time you stopped yourself from making a remark… realizing that it might not be perceived the way you intended – or that it could be downright hurtful to others?
We have all said or done something that was unkind – or even misinterpreted – then felt unsettled because of it for hours/days/weeks. This is not a pleasant feeling and certainly doesn’t leave us operating in peace and calm. And if we have said or done something that really caused a stir, the ramifications can create turmoil, hurt, and disappointment for a long time… with the potential for permanent damage.
This is not what God wants for us… and He offers us a way out! Some of us need to tattoo these scripture verses to our forearm, tape them to the bathroom mirror, and post them on our refrigerator! “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. Say nothing evil or hurtful, snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” If we will just remember this… and ask God to show us how to bless others, we can “see the day fill up with good.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to fill up my days with peace and contentment in God’s blessings. Regardless of my age, I must be on guard to make sure that my words and actions please God at every turn… or I can expect some times of incredible turmoil and discord. Everyone has a bad moment – or even a bad day – at some point. But we can greatly reduce the instances of this if we will remain aware of our behavior – and in touch with God. He will help us to guard our comments and behaviors… He will help us to operate in blessings rather than unkindness… and we will be blessed – and peaceful in the bargain. Where do you fit in to this picture? How will you fill up this day with good?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 14, 2010
Proverbs 26:18-19
People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking, "Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.
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.
News reports have documented all too well what happens when a careless camper flicks a cigarette or leaves a smoldering campfire. Entire parks, neighborhoods and communities have gone up in flames due to this reckless behavior. In some cases, the perpetrator was caught and prosecuted. In others, it can be hoped that the person responsible was greatly remorseful for his/her actions.
In recent weeks, we’ve seen our share of incidents where people shrug off deliberate deceptions… from politicians who say, “It was all in the spirit of the campaign,” to those who have ridiculed and bullied homosexuals to the point of suicide and then tried to brush it off as a result of the victim’s own insecurities and emotional hangups. So many people fail to see how their single act of unkindness and insensitivity can spread as rampantly as the flames induced by the spark of a campfire or cigarette ember.
As a people, we fail to recognize the power of a single sentence… or even tone with which we utter a couple of words. The Bible tells us the tongue has the power of life or death. What we say can make all the difference… either negatively, or positively.
We cannot excuse our sinful behavior or hurtful comments and judgments with the phrase, “I was only kidding.” So often, what we say and do is truly not a joke… and it’s time we realized our impact on others. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the one who “burns down the forest!”
Let’s ask God to help us be more thoughtful… more Christ-like in our words and deeds. Let’s ask Him to show us how to overcome any hint of an urge to deceive others and then try to justify our behavior. Let’s be the people He has called us to be and operate in truth and love. God’s not kidding around with others’ feelings… and neither should we.
©2010 Debbie Robus
People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking, "Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.
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.
News reports have documented all too well what happens when a careless camper flicks a cigarette or leaves a smoldering campfire. Entire parks, neighborhoods and communities have gone up in flames due to this reckless behavior. In some cases, the perpetrator was caught and prosecuted. In others, it can be hoped that the person responsible was greatly remorseful for his/her actions.
In recent weeks, we’ve seen our share of incidents where people shrug off deliberate deceptions… from politicians who say, “It was all in the spirit of the campaign,” to those who have ridiculed and bullied homosexuals to the point of suicide and then tried to brush it off as a result of the victim’s own insecurities and emotional hangups. So many people fail to see how their single act of unkindness and insensitivity can spread as rampantly as the flames induced by the spark of a campfire or cigarette ember.
As a people, we fail to recognize the power of a single sentence… or even tone with which we utter a couple of words. The Bible tells us the tongue has the power of life or death. What we say can make all the difference… either negatively, or positively.
We cannot excuse our sinful behavior or hurtful comments and judgments with the phrase, “I was only kidding.” So often, what we say and do is truly not a joke… and it’s time we realized our impact on others. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the one who “burns down the forest!”
Let’s ask God to help us be more thoughtful… more Christ-like in our words and deeds. Let’s ask Him to show us how to overcome any hint of an urge to deceive others and then try to justify our behavior. Let’s be the people He has called us to be and operate in truth and love. God’s not kidding around with others’ feelings… and neither should we.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)