I believe that most people don't ever think about the dangers of writing like I and so many others do. When we write we have no choice but to reveal things about ourselves. Those who read our writings see things slip through that make up who we truly are, things that are not often revealed to those with whom we have casual contact day by day. The same is true of those who stand in the pulpits of churches or teach bible classes. After a short while you begin to get a sense of who that person really is, what is important to them, what motivates them is life. You just can't separate what you believe and what you and your life proclaim. It is revealed one small section at a time whether we like it or not. Carl Sandburg once said, "Life is like an onion, you peal it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you cry."
I know that many people have a hard time revealing themselves to others. It's difficult to take a stand, when you are unsure of the response of those around us. We all want to be liked and have the approval of our friends, that's natural for us. Sometimes in life it becomes necessary to take a stand for what is right and not what is popular. That at times, is not just difficult, but to some folks it is terrifying.
I recently ran across a quote by author Gail Godwin, the quote said: "One is taught by experience to put a premium on those few people who can appreciate you for what you are." There are some of you that I cherish, because you allow me to be what I am and love me anyway. You encourage me; you respond to me, you share what you are with me. The question this brings to mind is "What are you?"
We might be fat, skinny, tall, thin, well educated or not so well educated. We might be rich or we might be poor, but it is really not any of those things that define what we are. What defines what we are, is what is unseen to the casual observer. We are defined by our beliefs, our motives, the things we love and the things to which we devote our time, our lives and ourselves.
Jesus speaks on this subject in Matthew 7:15-20, notice his insight into the mater: "Beware of false prophets (teachers) who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (NLT)
The bottom line is that we need to look for character in our friends, but don't just stop there, encourage character in our friends. Look beyond the outward appearance and see what is really important in life. Take a stand for what is right and good and pure, even if it means standing up to some who try to tear you down for doing what is right.
The apostle Peter tells us how a Christian will live in 1 Peter 4:2-5. Notice what he writes: "You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy, their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead" (NLT)
Thank you for being a friend that encourages me to stand and be counted for the Lord. I pray that we may continue standing for the Lord side by side against a world that may not see our value.
Russ Lawson
I know that many people have a hard time revealing themselves to others. It's difficult to take a stand, when you are unsure of the response of those around us. We all want to be liked and have the approval of our friends, that's natural for us. Sometimes in life it becomes necessary to take a stand for what is right and not what is popular. That at times, is not just difficult, but to some folks it is terrifying.
I recently ran across a quote by author Gail Godwin, the quote said: "One is taught by experience to put a premium on those few people who can appreciate you for what you are." There are some of you that I cherish, because you allow me to be what I am and love me anyway. You encourage me; you respond to me, you share what you are with me. The question this brings to mind is "What are you?"
We might be fat, skinny, tall, thin, well educated or not so well educated. We might be rich or we might be poor, but it is really not any of those things that define what we are. What defines what we are, is what is unseen to the casual observer. We are defined by our beliefs, our motives, the things we love and the things to which we devote our time, our lives and ourselves.
Jesus speaks on this subject in Matthew 7:15-20, notice his insight into the mater: "Beware of false prophets (teachers) who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (NLT)
The bottom line is that we need to look for character in our friends, but don't just stop there, encourage character in our friends. Look beyond the outward appearance and see what is really important in life. Take a stand for what is right and good and pure, even if it means standing up to some who try to tear you down for doing what is right.
The apostle Peter tells us how a Christian will live in 1 Peter 4:2-5. Notice what he writes: "You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy, their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead" (NLT)
Thank you for being a friend that encourages me to stand and be counted for the Lord. I pray that we may continue standing for the Lord side by side against a world that may not see our value.
Russ Lawson
First Corinthians commentary: Get the new First Corinthians commentary from www.abiblecommentary.com. Preview the First Corinthians commentary through Google books at http://bit.ly/dfw86d. Other Bible commentary material from www.abiblecommentary.com includes a FREE on-line Romans commentary: http://bit.ly/3MRU5I
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