FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - 38
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Fruit of the Spirit
Day 38 | GENTLENESS AND RESPECT
Fruit of the Spirit
Day 38 | GENTLENESS AND RESPECT
GENTLENESS AND RESPECT
1 Peter 3:15-16
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.” (NLT)
We live in a time when quick tempers are the norm for MANY. Perhaps it’s because many seem to think they can win an argument (or debate) by threatening, angry behavior, I don’t know. But I do know that is NOT how we Followers of Jesus are to act.
And note in this section written by Peter – probably the most volatile of the twelve disciples – that he is teaching what he has learned and that when people ASK us about our faith, we are to “always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”
In other words, we do NOT have the freedom to yell and scream, berate the listener, or talk down to them… but key words that guide us are: “gentle and respectful.”
I admire many apologists who are defending our faith in front of crowds, in debates with atheists and others. And you’ve got to know how difficult it must be for them NOT to be flippant or condemning but to share in a “gentle and respectful way.” We all need to learn that as we interact with others who wonder about our faith. I’ve found that many people searching for God today have been turned-off to faith by someone, somewhere, claiming to be a Christ-follower, and then disappoint through their behavior. Gentleness AND respect… a good combo.
Prayer: LORD, remind me often of this combination and help me live so that my conscience is clear and that You are pleased with me. Amen.
1 Peter 3:15-16
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.” (NLT)
We live in a time when quick tempers are the norm for MANY. Perhaps it’s because many seem to think they can win an argument (or debate) by threatening, angry behavior, I don’t know. But I do know that is NOT how we Followers of Jesus are to act.
And note in this section written by Peter – probably the most volatile of the twelve disciples – that he is teaching what he has learned and that when people ASK us about our faith, we are to “always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”
In other words, we do NOT have the freedom to yell and scream, berate the listener, or talk down to them… but key words that guide us are: “gentle and respectful.”
I admire many apologists who are defending our faith in front of crowds, in debates with atheists and others. And you’ve got to know how difficult it must be for them NOT to be flippant or condemning but to share in a “gentle and respectful way.” We all need to learn that as we interact with others who wonder about our faith. I’ve found that many people searching for God today have been turned-off to faith by someone, somewhere, claiming to be a Christ-follower, and then disappoint through their behavior. Gentleness AND respect… a good combo.
Prayer: LORD, remind me often of this combination and help me live so that my conscience is clear and that You are pleased with me. Amen.
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