A TIME TO BE ANGRY!

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”  (Ephesians 4:25-27 NIV)

Kind of a shocking title isn't it? -- “A Time to Be Angry!”  We so often think of Christians as being meek and mild, turning the other cheek and in general, not being very aggressive.  Don't forget that Jesus became upset with the Pharisees and among other things called them… "snakes! You brood of vipers." (Matthew 33:23)  The apostle Paul did not mince words when he told the Corinthians, "Do not deceive yourselves.  If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise." (1 Corinthians 3:18)

When it came time to do their best for God, it was not a time to hold back.  In both instances they were talking to people who should have known better.  Don't be afraid to hold your brothers and sisters accountable.  Depending on the situation, sometimes a little "shock value" is required, and if it is for their salvation and the glory of God… it's not a bad thing.

-- rj van rootselaar, a subscriber in Alberta, Canada

#4781

WE NEED EACH OTHER

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

Within the body of Christ we need to be intentional about the seeds we sow, about how our behavior with friends should be preparing us for service out in the world. We need each other to draw us out of our self-centeredness. We need others to hold us accountable, to be like a mirror to help us see our lives and our doing of our faith more clearly. We need each other for mutual encouragement, to push further into serving the world than we might if left alone.

-- James C. Howell in “Your Are the Hands of Christ”


#4198

ACCOUNTABILITY

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  (Proverbs 27:17)

People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after.

-- Goldsmith


#3965

WE NEED EACH OTHER

I believe God wants you to be saved from sin and delivered to a happy and whole life as one of Christ's disciples. That journey is so much easier if you open yourself to the Bible's teaching, if you listen to the wisdom of Christians who have traveled before you, and if you do it in community -- with a group of seekers or disciples who will support you, encourage you, and challenge you along the way. Ideally that community of sisters and brothers and friends will hold you accountable for becoming your best self. Our efforts to become the people we want to be are often done in groups, whether Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, Walk to Emmaus, a women's Bible study, a men's group, or [an adult] Sunday school class. We need each other.

-- U. M. Bishop Scott J. Jones in The Wesleyan Way: A Faith That Matters

#3728

GET READY TO RECEIVE A BLESSING

Any psychologist will confirm that we only see a part of our true self. We have areas we try and hide from others (called "secret") and we have areas we can't seem to see that others see quite well (called "blind" areas). Other people may indeed see some aspect of our life that we completely miss -- or at least that we don't want to see. If we open our heart to their counsel we have made the first step to a period of growth in our Christian walk. However, growth of this sort usually comes with a little emotional pain…

Seek a close relationship with your fellow travelers on this earth and be blessed. Open your heart to truly hear from each other and remember that you are not alone. Your problems, temptations and difficulties are not unique to only you and your life. Look around and become willing to accept some input from other Christians and get ready to receive a blessing!

-- Pastor Gary Stone

 
#2827

WALKING WITH THE LORD

Accountability is the most important thing... without accountability you find yourself hanging out with the wrong people and sliding into old ways. The friends I used to have don't understand the changes in me and why I don't hang with them like I used to, but I pray in due time they will. As they continue to see me walk with the Lord and stay the course, I am hopeful that they will want what I have.

-- Gary Sheffield, Major League Baseball Player, in Sports Spectrum

#2487