Ex
November 22nd, 2001, 11:38 AM
Much of our christian teaching has been occupied with right actions. We have been taught: "do this, for it is right; but don't do that because it is wrong." Right actions are important; the bible speaks clearly concerning right things and wrong things. God's word, though it is not a book of negatives, does declare that certain actions are evil in themselves. From these we must refrain.
The bible also gives' us commissions and commands. We are just as obligated to obey god in those, as we are to refrain from what he has forbidden: we all know that wrong actions can be ruinous. They can adversely affect one's personality and bring defeat into their fife-, but do we realize that wrong reactions can hurt us as much as wrong actions, perhaps even more so.
What is more, wrongfeactions can be found in people whose actions on the surface are correct and proper: a person who prides himself on his right actions might truthfully say, "I don't lie, I don't cheat, I don't swear, I don't get drunk, I don't commit adultery." His actions are correct and proper,, yet he may be utterly defeated by his wrong reactions to life's situations and other people's actions.
We may at any given moment pride ourselves on right actions and yet be reacting with jealousy., resentment, or anger, or hatred, or fear, or self-pity. To react in one or several of these ways when things do not please us will be very harmful to us.
When a person watches my actions, he would not really know me. My actions would not reveal to him what I really am, because my actions might be planned and practiced for his benefit. But it is our reactions, our spontaneous, unconscious, unscheduled reactions that reveal what we are:
Consider some basic factors concerning our reactions factors which show 'us how to understand our reaction and what to do about them: first of all, we need to know that in a non - Christian, world we are going to be treated in unchristian ways.
There will be unchristian actions. It is not difficult to have Christian reactions when things are pleasant and favorable. But when we are treated in unchristian ways, it is easy to have unchristian reactions.
The apostle Peter warned that certain people might speak evil of any who turn to Christ and run no longer with their former companions to the same excess of riot. The apostle John said in I John 3:13 marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." And our Lord said in John 15:18 "if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
What do men find to criticize in Jesus Christ? How could there be unchristian actions toward Christ when his every though was love, and his every act was kindness? Yet, he was severely cniticized. At times he was bitterly resented; at other times he was openly hated. His reactions to such unchristian treatinen4 of course, were pure and holy. But since he was mistreated, it should come as no surprise to us who are sinners by nature if we are treated in unchristian ways.
We ought never to be shocked at any treatment we receive from anyone. Let us mark that down. It should come as no surprise to us when people are selfish in dealing with us or when they are unkind or critical or resentful.
I think we often play the game of fife in a reverse manner. We are always shocked by what happens to us and are unprepared for it. If we believe the bible we would know that we would be treated in unchristian ways. We would also know what our reactions should be. We would be prepared and strengthened by our Lord ahead of time, so that our reactions would be right, positive mature and spiritual.
"Actions speak louder than words."
The bible also gives' us commissions and commands. We are just as obligated to obey god in those, as we are to refrain from what he has forbidden: we all know that wrong actions can be ruinous. They can adversely affect one's personality and bring defeat into their fife-, but do we realize that wrong reactions can hurt us as much as wrong actions, perhaps even more so.
What is more, wrongfeactions can be found in people whose actions on the surface are correct and proper: a person who prides himself on his right actions might truthfully say, "I don't lie, I don't cheat, I don't swear, I don't get drunk, I don't commit adultery." His actions are correct and proper,, yet he may be utterly defeated by his wrong reactions to life's situations and other people's actions.
We may at any given moment pride ourselves on right actions and yet be reacting with jealousy., resentment, or anger, or hatred, or fear, or self-pity. To react in one or several of these ways when things do not please us will be very harmful to us.
When a person watches my actions, he would not really know me. My actions would not reveal to him what I really am, because my actions might be planned and practiced for his benefit. But it is our reactions, our spontaneous, unconscious, unscheduled reactions that reveal what we are:
Consider some basic factors concerning our reactions factors which show 'us how to understand our reaction and what to do about them: first of all, we need to know that in a non - Christian, world we are going to be treated in unchristian ways.
There will be unchristian actions. It is not difficult to have Christian reactions when things are pleasant and favorable. But when we are treated in unchristian ways, it is easy to have unchristian reactions.
The apostle Peter warned that certain people might speak evil of any who turn to Christ and run no longer with their former companions to the same excess of riot. The apostle John said in I John 3:13 marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you." And our Lord said in John 15:18 "if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
What do men find to criticize in Jesus Christ? How could there be unchristian actions toward Christ when his every though was love, and his every act was kindness? Yet, he was severely cniticized. At times he was bitterly resented; at other times he was openly hated. His reactions to such unchristian treatinen4 of course, were pure and holy. But since he was mistreated, it should come as no surprise to us who are sinners by nature if we are treated in unchristian ways.
We ought never to be shocked at any treatment we receive from anyone. Let us mark that down. It should come as no surprise to us when people are selfish in dealing with us or when they are unkind or critical or resentful.
I think we often play the game of fife in a reverse manner. We are always shocked by what happens to us and are unprepared for it. If we believe the bible we would know that we would be treated in unchristian ways. We would also know what our reactions should be. We would be prepared and strengthened by our Lord ahead of time, so that our reactions would be right, positive mature and spiritual.
"Actions speak louder than words."