Taking care not to be offended James 1:19, 20
I have noticed how easily offended people have become. An associate seethes with anger that leadership overlooked their extra work but awarded the basic work of a favored one. Your assistant is noticeably upset that the repairman complimented her clerk on a new hairdo, but overlooked her own recent styling change.
People see to go out of their way to take offense what someone else has said or done. They don’t experience peace themselves and pull everyone else down with them. This contributes stress in the work place, and trouble in working relationships. What is even more troubling is how many times even good church going families experience this particular sin.
James clearly warns us against this sin in these verses. He warns us that our selfish anger does no one any good. Jesus himself taught that when we are accosted we should turn the other cheek. This can also mean that we overlook it when someone doesn’t see the things that we want them to or that we wish they could see.
If you find yourself struggling with this sin, I’d like to challenge you with something that will change your life. Instead of watching how others may be mistreating you, why not instead watch for the times when you see someone else being mistreated and leap to their defense? This is righteous anger and it is the attitude that Jesus himself displayed while He walked on this earth. We are go be quick to do unto others what we would have them do unto us. This means that we are to be watching for the chance to defend those weaker than ourselves, and to be ready at a moments notice to help them. However and whatever providing that help means, we are to do this and to see it as our most important work here on earth.
You will begin to lose sight of the tension and the stress you used to carry with you, and instead be filled to the full with God’s abundant love and joy. You will no longer notice the slights and the oversight of those around you. You won’t have time.
The second part of this challenge is to forgive others for their blindness. Jesus said if our brother sins against us, we are to immediately forgive their behavior, even up to 70 times 7. We are not to take offense, and scurry to correct what we see as a major insult to us. No, rather, we are to forgive and let God work out the details. For God sees everything and He has already declared that he alone will avenge the wrongs done to His children.
Try some baby steps in this area this week. Trust God to cover your back, and be at the ready to forgive those around you. Refuse to take offense, no matter what might travail during the workday. You’ll feel refreshed and full of joy as you practice the Word of God in your daily walk. God bless you and have a joyful week.
Archive for the ‘Actions’ Category
Easily Offended
Posted in Actions, Uncategorized on September 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Parts of the Body…
Posted in Actions, Christian Walk, tagged Christianity, church life, Discipleship, ministry, Spiritual Gifts on August 11, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I read with interest an article in my Discipleship study on the distinct parts we each play in our church body. The emphasis of the lesson was how each part of the body has equal significance and importance within the body of Christ.
One of the quotes in the study was a comment by Martin Luther where he rants and raves over the importance of the pastor. In our churches today we have definitely learned that lesson well. So much emphasis is placed upon the pastor, that it appears that he is the entire body. For instance, who visits the sick and in prison? The pastor. Who does the weekly outreach meetings? The pastor. The pastor runs many of the programs in the smaller churches. One might ask – What happened to the other body parts?
The music director has been given an equally noticeable roll. Whether pastors in their own right, or lay people serving the Lord in this capacity, they are often just as busy as the Pastor is when it comes to building up the church body. I can remember serving for four years in this capacity, and the Pastor and I literally held that body of believers together. I helped visit the sick, helped with outreach, created the bulletins and followup letters, and helped the Pastor set up revivals and other events because there was no one else to help.
Christ’ church is a living breathing body of believers pulled together from a multitude of experiences for a purpose. No one person – and no one gift – is more important than any other gift. Pastor’s and music directors get a lot of attention, but they are no more important than the person responsible for serving food or watching over the nursery. When the church is active and alive, each person completing their own work for the good of the whole, then the Church can seriously impact the community where it survives.
We need to give our Pastors and Music Directors a break and begin to carry the load that Christ has appointed us. When the Pastor sets the vision, we need to gather behind him and follow his leadership in whatever Christ has laid upon His heart. If he feels God wants him to hold a revival, then the activity committee and the kitchen committee need to get on their knees and pray for wisdom and then joyfully plan some activities. The worship team needs to pray and then begin to seek out a revival preacher. The music director needs to set up some special music. The nursery and children’s church need to be planned. Even the cleanliness of the church becomes paramount to the success of the revival.
The church cannot function unless all of the gifts of the Spirit are present and accounted for. This means the members of the body must be on scene and prepared for service. Once that occurs, there is no limit to the powerful witness a church can have. Without the sum of the parts, however, the church will stagnate and die on its own.
We need each other. That’s all there is to it.
My Daddy’s Voice
Posted in Christian Walk, Reactions on July 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I listened to Cheryl Broderson’s comments on the Book of Corinthians on my way up to the City of Virginia Beach to get a manicure this morning. Cheryl is a member of Calvary Church Costa Mesa, and is on the radio locally each Saturday morning around 9 a.m. If you’ve never heard her, you are missing an awesome blessing.
Anyway, this morning, she shared the story of her own Dad’s voice and how she came to recognize it over every other person’s voice. Her Dad would arrive home and sing out some lyrics to her. It must have delighted her, because she learned a little melody she sang back to him as she ran to him and was swept up into his arms. Well, she said her older brothers learned the technique, and would come home, and sing out the lyrics to her, and she’d come running out into the other room, absolutely delighted that He was home…but he wasn’t – it was her brothers! She shared the devestation she felt when she realized it wasn’t her daddy’s voice after all. It all brought home to me the tender memories of my own dad, who crossed over in 1991 to be with the Lord. I was in tears when Cheryl finished her story.
You see, like Cheryl, my father used to sing my name. He didn’t sing a whole musical repoirtre like Cheryl’s Father, but he always sang my name. I would know that voice anywhere, because no one ever said my name the way my father did. He had a beatiful voice, and he made up his own little tune that just stretched out my name and made it turn from plain Mary into something quite lilting and beautiful. I came to trust that when I heard his voice, something beautiful and wonderful was getting ready to happen. Hugs, and kisses, and tickles and laughter and lots and lots of love.
When Jesus shared that his sheep would know His voice, I knew immediately what He was talking about. I knew I would recognize His voice also. And I did – first over 30 years ago, and though I haven’t always been consistent, He shared some more of His heart with me last year. Nothing could ever sound that beautiful to these ears, and I crave to hear His voice again as I go about my days…
Later, with glistening new nails done in antique bronze, I stopped off at the Bloom store to buy some groceries. Eating has become a large area of focus as I am trying to lose pounds and cholesterol and get rid of hypertension. I was browsing through the organic foods section, and to my right was a lady with a young toddler sitting in the basket, looking at some items. All of a sudden the little girl started dancing in her seat, and gurgling with happy delight. I wondered whatever had her so delighted. Then I turned, and saw her father approaching with what could only be her older brother in the other shopping cart. Mom said, “She’s dancing for you, honey” and the father said, “Yes, I see that” and bent down and cooed some sugary musical lyrics to her and gave her a big kiss. As they walked off, he was glancing down at her so devotedly, and she him, and I had to leave the store. I missed picking up half my groceries – I was a basketcase.
All I could see was Christ in His perfect grace, looking devotedly down at me, and letting me know he had heard my heart when Cheryl reminded me so tenderly of that precious memory of my own father. Tears come to my eyes each time I think of all this. Thank you Cheryl for the memory and Jesus for your wonderful grace!!
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Chatting about Christianity and how it affects our families, our jobs, and our lives. The whirlwind represents the grace that I found at the edge of the water
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