Getting Bumped!

If I am holding a cup of coffee and someone bumps into me, what gets spilled? Of course it would be the contents of the cup; coffee. If a glass of milk is upset on the table, what ends up being spilled? Again, we know it would be the contents of the glass; milk. What is within the cup or glass does not change upon being knocked over. What is contained is what will be spilled.

What if we considered our life in the same way? If we have tried to hide some aspects of our character that are not particularly godly, those characteristics are usually revealed when our life is bumped or upset by the actions of others. Therefore we ought to be mindful of what we are striving to contain within so that when it is spilled it may bring blessing to our life and perhaps even to the one who has upset us. If we do not respond appropriately we will end up making our own contribution to the making of a mess!

Note the kind of response Paul exhorted those at Rome toward.
“(14) BLESS those who persecute you; BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE THEM.”

Then dropping down a few verses…
“(17) REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL, but GIVE THOUGHT TO DO WHAT IS HONORABLE in the sight of all. (18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (19) Beloved, NEVER AVENGE YOURSELVES, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ (20) To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.” ( Romans 12:14 & 17-21 ESV)

The best way to be prepared to respond in such a way is to focus on having our life FILLED WITH THE RIGHT QUALITIES. Let us seek to be FILLED WITH GOODNESS. ( Romans 15:14) Let us also allow our lives to be filled with the FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. ( Philippians 1:11) Through living by the wisdom from above (rather than the wisdom of the world) our life will be “FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS.” ( James 3:17) May such things be the contents that spill out when our life receives its bumps so that our GODLY CHARACTER can be seen and have opportunity to impact those around us.

Have a great day AVOIDING A MESS THROUGH WILLINGNESS TO BLESS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Character