Thought for the day
I heard a story recently about a student named Donald MacDonald from the Isle of Skye (in Scotland), who was admitted into the prestigious Oxford University, and was living in the hall of residence in his first year there. His clan was so excited that one of their own had made it into the upper class of education, but they were concerned how he would do in "that strange land."
After the first month, his mother came to visit." And how do you find the English students, Donald?" she asked."Mother," he replied in his thick brogue. "They're such terrible, noisy people. The one on that side keeps banging his head against the wall, and won't stop. The one on the other side screams and screams and screams, away into the night."
"Oh Donald! How do you manage to put up with these awful noisy English neighbors?"
"Mother, I do nothing. I just ignore them. I just stay here quietly, playing my bagpipes..."
Sometimes it helps to realize that when we find people to be so irritating, it may well be that they find us to be the same (and perhaps for better reason). Even deeds done with the best of intentions can be irritating. Solomon said, "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him." (Proverbs 27:14).
I suppose we could ask ourselves the question, "What am I doing that may be irritating others around me?" But I think we would be better served to ask it in a more positive way: "What am I doing to be a blessing to others around me?"
"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23)
Verses
Romans 10:17
But there can be no faith if there is no opportunity of hearing the message, and there can be no opportunity of hearing unless there is someone to deliver the message.
Luke 10:19
"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Matthew 16:19
I shall give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth [forbid to be done], shall have been already bound [forbidden to be done] in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth [permit to be done], shall have already been loosed in heaven [permitted to be done].
1 Samuel 12:23
"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; in order that he might fulfil his covenant which he hath sworn unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
PrayerFather, it is in bitterness, revenge and self-pity that we become useless to others and toxic to ourselves. But through expressions of forgiveness and love we are granted inner strength and power beyond ourselves to move forward, and it is there that we find healing and restoration for our wounded souls. May we not live in the past or turn to our own destructive vices but find deliverance and victory through the enduring work of the Holy Spirit that brings comfort, conviction, and cleansing. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment