Glow Worms

Thursday February 19, 2015

In response to a critic, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once replied, "We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow worm."

Today at a children´s football game I saw a very different, yet increasingly common, response to criticism. Rather than using humour or graciousness to diffuse a situation, a group of parents nearly stormed the field when a referee penalised a player on their team. When the player rudely talked back to the referee, the parents shouted, "Way to go! You were right, and you need to let that ref know it!" The more rudely the boy behaved, the louder the parents cheered and demonstrated complete ignorance and disregard of God´s basic command : "For the Lord´s sake, submit to all human authority" (1 Peter 2:13).

Though I haven´t (and hopefully never will!) speak disrespectfully to a referee, what I saw this morning caused me to reflect on ways that I - and other people - can be pursuing mature ways to react to misunderstandings.

Relying on the strength and grace Jesus has provided, let´s make it our goal to follow these biblical principles as we interact with others in person or via social media : 

- Pursue holiness. This means using our bodies, especially our mouths that can form helpful or hurtful words, as "living and holy [sacrifices]" (Romans 12:1).
- Be humble and honest. "Don´t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (v.3)
- Be considerate of other believers. For "we all belong to each other" (v.5). Misunderstandings happen. But may our words and responses glow with the grace God has shown to us! - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Romans 12:1-5
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God´s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God´s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by grace given me I say to everyone of you : DO not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Proverbs 19:11
A man´s wisdom gives him patience; 
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Question to Ponder
Why is it vital to show respect to others as we interact with them, even when they´re not showing it to us?
How can you be more considerate in the way you communicate today?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue