Category: Christian Living

I asked my youngest son Carl to replace a light switch plate in his bedroom with the new one.  A couple of minutes later I heard him revving the DeWalt cordless drill.  I rolled my eyes and thought, “Any excuse to use a power tool…”  A regular screwdriver would’ve been the best choice for such a simple task.  Besides, if you don’t know how to use a power tool properly, you could do some damage.  Talk about overkill!

There are many situations in which it’s possible for us to be guilty of overkill.  Mainly, let’s give some thought to how we react to others.  Do we feel the need to make some noise?  Is that really more effective?  Or are there times when a quieter approach is more appropriate?  Just because we own power tools doesn’t mean every situation calls for them.  Consider some examples:

With our children.  When we’re admonishing, we don’t have to raise our voice to show significance.  “If I yell at them, they’ll know I really mean it!”  If we have to shout before they know we’re serious, it’s because we’ve conditioned them that way.  There are times when shouting (the power tool) is appropriate, such as stopping a child from running out into the street, but most of the time a raised voice does more harm than good.  We can discipline without yelling.  We can still be strict and serious without intimidating our children or losing our temper.  Patience, gentleness, and self-control demonstrate the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).  What are we demonstrating when we’re quick to shout?

With our spouse.  Shouting matches behind closed doors are often the result of misunderstandings.  When we assume that our spouse knows what we want or understands the way we think, we feel hurt or angry when hopes aren’t realized or something is handled unexpectedly.  Then we take it personally.  Discussions escalate, and doors are slammed to punctuate.  This kind of ugly damage can be avoided.  It’s not fair to expect your mate to read your mind, and then let them know you’re frustrated when they don’t measure up.  Talk, discuss, share.  And when a disappointment still comes, talk through it again.  Danger hovers close to heated arguments because we know our spouses’ vulnerabilities.  We know how to hurt them.  We can communicate effectively without threatening or insulting.  Quietness doesn’t signify a lack of passion.  It means we want to love like Christ loves (Ephesians 5:22-28).

With our brethren.  Upon seeing a weakness or shortcoming in a brother, some are too eager to make some noise.  Condemnations are spouted on facebook, but to what end?  If the goal is to help, encourage, or restore, wouldn’t a simple, quiet one-on-one approach be more effective?  Upon seeing imperfections in a preaching school or Christian college, wouldn’t a direct conversation with the administration be adequate instead of publicly writing off all such institutions?  And instead of slamming the Lord’s church for all the world to see/ read/ hear, wouldn’t it be better to demonstrate a Christ-like life to show the world the beautiful nature of God’s Family?  When we’re quick to condemn, we do more harm than good.  Looking for ways to lovingly make a difference doesn’t mean we tolerate sin.  It means we’re humbly bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

It didn’t take long for Carl to let me know the job was done.  He even revved the drill a couple more times to emphasize his manliness.  I laughed at that.  But it’s no laughing matter when we overreact to our families, and to God’s Family.

Prayer for Today:  Thank you for your Son, who showed us how to love and live with patience and humility.

In the past week, we’ve been very busy trying to see how many people we can let down.  At least it has felt that way.  We’ve disappointed some and hurt some.  Oh, not in a sinful way, but in a painful way nevertheless.  As we geared up for the fallout, as we braced for the blows, we received…warm hugs, whispered prayers, supportive words, healing tears.  A generosity of patience and  understanding.  Lots of silent smiles conveying trust.  Multiple conversations revealed class acts and compassionate hearts.  I was humbled and so grateful.  I was surprised, but I shouldn’t have been.  This wasn’t the first time I’d seen mercy in action.  I’ve personally hurt others in the past, and in a sinful way.  When anger and rejection would’ve been justifiable, I was shown compassion and forgiveness.

I’m grateful for two things.  First, it’s wonderful to see Christians demonstrating God’s grace and mercy.  We saw firsthand a glimpse of the Father’s heart.  It’s been beautiful and faith-building, and I’m reminded once more of the blessedness of being in God’s Family.  Second, I’m grateful for the ways this has caused me to look closely at my own heart.  I’ve been forced to acknowledge that there’ve been times when I’ve been stingy with mercy.  There’ve been times when I’ve been too full of myself to be patient or compassionate.  There’ve been times when I did extend forgiveness, but a little too begrudgingly and condescendingly.  I’m challenged to be more merciful.  I want to give to others what has been so generously given to us.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Prayer for Today:  Oh God, help me show Your love and mercy to my family, my fellow Christians, and my sphere of influence.

Once you hear the fascinating story of the strangler fig, you will shiver every time you see one.  The strangler fig is a large canopy tree that begins its life in an unusual way.  The seed is deposited by bird droppings on a branch of another tree.  As the seed grows, it stretches out in both directions, down toward the ground so it can build a root system, and up toward the sky so it can reach the sunlight through the jungle growth.  The strangler fig grows aggressively, and soon its roots choke off the nutrients of the host tree, while its leaves prevent the host tree from getting sunlight.  Before long, nothing is left of the host but a hollow center.  The common name for this dark jungle dweller is the banyan tree, which sounds a lot more benign than calling it what it is.  And you know where I’m going with this.  Seeds are deposited on us all the time.  Unlike the host tree of the strangler fig, we have a choice as to whether or not the little seeds grow and take over.

The seed of unpleasantness- You’ve had it dropped on you.  No matter how positive you try to be, or how much good you try to do, someone will find fault.  Someone will criticize or say something thoughtless.  You can brush it off, or you can feed it until it you find yourself resenting others.  Common name:  I’mAVictim.  Real name:  Bitterness

The seed of sensuality- It’s everywhere.  Ladies, it’s not just a problem for guys who stare at a computer all day.  It’s in TV shows like Desperate You-Name-It or The Bachelor or Dancing with the Stars.  It’s in magazines.  It’s graphically portrayed in novels.  It can even be found on Pinterest.  It can smother out all sense of purity and wholesomeness.  Common name:  Entertainment.  Real name:  Pornography.

The seed of whispering- Will you join in the conversation?  It doesn’t take much to become a participant, to look forward to the chatter, to contribute what you know.  Common name:  Confiding.  Real name:  Gossip.

The seed of chemistry- A glance here, a little flirtation there, or an exchange of emails or texts that makes your heart flutter and your cheeks hot…there’s nothing harmless about it.  It has an aggressive growth rate.  It damages relationships, and soon you might find yourself guilty of the one thing you thought you’d never do.  Common name:  Affair. Real name:  Adultery.

No matter what we’re exposed to, faced with, or tempted by, we have the choice to nip it in the bud (ha!) from the very beginning (1 Cor. 10:13), or we can let it grow and smother out the Light until nothing is left but a hollow shell of who we’re supposed to be.  “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15).

Prayer for Today:  May I always be aware of any sin trying to take root in my heart.

Am I righteous?  Or am I self-righteous?  It is all too possible to be doing everything right, but to have an attitude that’s all wrong.  Jesus taught this to individuals (Luke 7:40-47), to seekers (Mark 10:17-24), and even to religious groups (Matt. 15:7,8).  From these examples, we see it’s possible to think we’re righteous when we’re not.  Jesus had to point out to these people their heart problems.  They couldn’t see it for themselves.  How can we make sure we’re not just outwardly righteous?

I can be living right, but getting it wrong if I compare my righteousness to others.  Jesus told a parable about a very religious man who felt pretty good about himself when he looked around and saw that others weren’t measuring up.  He made himself the standard of righteousness!  Jesus calls this kind of attitude “exalting oneself.”  He told this parable to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous” and who “despised others” (Luke 18:9-14).  According to Webster, self-righteousness is “being convinced of one’s own righteousness, especially in contrast with the actions or beliefs of others.”  Jesus is our standard.  How does my righteousness compare to His?

I can be living right, but getting it wrong if I assume the worst in others.  When someone says (or posts) something  a little questionable, am I quick to correct, criticize, or condemn?   If I want to live right, I will be patient, tolerant, and loving, and viewing my fellow brothers and sisters through eyes of humility (Eph. 4:2).  This means I will give others the benefit of the doubt.  I will assume they are trying as hard as I am to live righteously.  “…In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3).

I can be living right, but getting it wrong if I think everyone needs to hear my opinion on any given matter.  Do I feel my thoughts are that superior?  or important?  Do I think the choices I’ve made are what’s best for everyone else?  There ARE times when we must speak and teach.  We’re to share the gospel truth every chance we get.  But there are some areas where the decisions made are matters of personal opinion.  When the Bible leaves choices in the hands of individuals (there’s more than one right way to parent, or educate, or work, or date, or diet…), we must be careful not to elevate our own opinions.  “Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom. 12:16).  Rom. 14 makes it clear that there will be some areas in which we can disagree in opinion.  We’re not to “pass judgment on [others’] opinions” (v. 1), but to “pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (v. 19).

How can we keep righteousness from becoming self-righteousness?   We simply honor others above ourselves (Rom. 12:10).

Prayer for Today:  May Your Son be my standard as I strive to live righteously and humbly.