ODJ: beyond sentimental slogans
August 9, 2010
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them (v.14).
READ: Romans 12:14-21
There’s a billboard company in my area that likes to post nice slogans on its signs when it doesn’t have paid clients. “Kyoto—Targets Bring Results” declares one environmentally conscious poster. “Knowledge Speaks but Wisdom Listens” reads another. “Love Nature—Love God” says a third. These fill-in billboards are always nice, sweet, and kind.
But a strange thing happened recently. Driving to work one morning, I noticed the billboards had changed—along with their tone. “Don’t Buy from [name removed]!” read one sign, taking a shot at one of our large Australian supermarket chains. “[Name removed] Treated Us Badly” read another.
The nice slogans of the billboard operator turned sour when a client disappointed them.
There’s a stark lesson in those billboards. Do we really mean the kind words we say? Does our facade of niceness melt when we’re wronged or disappointed?
According to Scripture, true character is revealed through conflict. “Bless those who persecute you,” the apostle Paul told the Romans (12:14). “Never pay back evil with more evil,” he wrote (v.17). We’re not to take revenge, Paul reminds us, but to conquer evil with good (vv.19-21).
Paul told his protégé Timothy to display love and purity when being persecuted (1 Timothy 4:12) and to oppose false teachers with gentleness and patience (2 Timothy 2:25, 4:2). The apostle Peter encouraged his flock to live such good lives that their accusers’ claims would be proven false (1 Peter 2:12,20)—imitating Jesus, who didn’t retaliate when He was insulted or threaten revenge when He suffered (v.23).
Sentiments of kindness are mere slogans if they can’t withstand the harsh test of conflict.—Sheridan Voysey
Think about a recent conflict when a godly response was difficult. How might you respond differently today? How will you participate with the Holy Spirit to express deep kindness to others?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: the great exchange
December 9, 2009 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God (vv.10-11). READ: Deuteronomy 8:10-14 Haiti is an impoverished nation [...]
the choice
July 2, 2009 READ: Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-8 Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. —Genesis 2:16-17 I watched as a young mother tried to get her 2-year-old child to make a choice. “You can have fish or [...]
ODJ: one lost son
February 23, 2012 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you” (v.18). READ: Luke 15:11-24 This story of the prodigal son is one of the most famous and familiar of Jesus’ parables. It’s also the most personal. For it touches an area that is often the [...]
ODJ: one-hit wonders
February 8, 2010 After my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! (v.26). READ: Job 19:21-27 A recent TV special on one-hit wonders—pop music performers who had one hit and then disappeared—fascinated me. Old footage from their prime showed them to be arrogant, bold, confident, outrageous, and young! Now, 20 to [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米