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I was reading some timely advice from Christian author and lecturer Clarence L. Haynes Jr regarding how Christians too often break our Lord's heart, with our words and reactions to political topics and conversations.
Without droning on too much, his point was to remind me that God is still sovereign, and still in control even though laws and law-makers may not fall in line with my idea of exactly how our future should be governed.
Haynes made a number of points, but the 2 points that I recognized were:
1) My thoughtless or emotional interaction with others can spoil my witness to the world, and even to my brother or sister in Christ. and 2) My thoughtless or emotional interaction can spoil my witness to the world, and even to my brothers and sisters in Christ. And 3) . . . . . . ( fill in the blanks ), etc., etc., etc.
I'm sure there were other great points he hoped I'd "get" from his work , but I was struck with the glaring reminder that , my effectiveness, as a messenger of the Good News, is largely dependent upon my first being a good listener, not an inflexible outspoken critic and political know-it-all.
James 1 vs 19 & 20 pretty much covers the minefield scenario that Satan constantly attempts to draw us into: May we be " . . . Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger because anger can not promote the righteousness of God."
And, "Oh, by the way Lord, help me to remember that you are still on the throne and fully in charge."
Because of Jesus -
Jack
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