“Ultimate Fighting – It’s Time to Get Nasty!”
“The gloves are coming off. I’ve had it up to here. Every time I turn around you’re at it again. If that’s how you want to play the game, I can play it too. If you want to be nasty – then we’ll see who wins! I’m no pushover. I’m not nave. I know what you’re up to and I won’t let you get away with it!”
Would a Christian ever talk that way? Maybe not. but then again, maybe. For sure, we can ‘think’ that way, even if the words never work their way out of our heart into the domain and morass of discernible sounds. You don’t have to ‘audibly’ announce that you are launching a fight. Actions are very convincing.
As a believer you’ll find that not all relationships are lovey-dubby. There will be personality conflicts and a wide variety of attitudes to deal with. There’ll be differing opinions on just about everything. There will be misunderstandings. Some will play annoying games. Occasionally there’ll be false accusations and even vicious rumors spread. Yes – it happens in Christian circles too.
How will you deal with it when it affects you or your family? There are a variety of approaches at your disposal. You can use the feline approach – soft furry paws with hidden sharp claws. Or you can use the canine technique of angry barks and sharp fangs. Or if you really want to get nasty, you can engage in UFC fighting.
The Apostle Paul was under fire. False teachers were attacking his credentials, character, motives and teachings. They were trying to turn the tide of opinion against Paul. Here’s how Paul responded to the believers in
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
.For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh,
but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations
and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
(2Corinthians 10:1-6)
Paul never ignored or turned a blind eye to the underlying agitating issues. The issues were real; they were not a figment of his imagination stemming from a bad case of paranoia. But Paul realized his greatest strength to counter the opposition was not his own ‘smarts’. He didn’t have to think and ponder what his next line of attack would be to squash his detractors. He knew his God. He could take the entire matter, with all its complexities to the very Throne of God and leave it there. He was aware of a dark sinister power behind the scenes waging a war ultimately against God – not himself. Paul made sure he was fully protected with all the defensive and offensive equipment of Ephesians 6 which, by the way, is also available to you today.
Are you exhibiting the meekness and gentleness of Christ? Or are you all bent out of shape over an issue? Are you stubbornly determined to win this battle by hook or by crook? Forget it. You won’t.
Take the matter to the Lord and leave it with Him. If He should choose to use you in some future way to help resolve the matter, the Spirit of God will direct you accordingly. But never try to fight a battle on your own strength. You will lose every time and lose badly.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
Comments
“Who when He was reviled, reviled not again, and when He suffered, He threatened not.”
I can’t help thinking of the incident in the Garden of Gethsamane, when Peter lashed out with his sword and chopped off Malchus’ ear. A natural reaction you might say, what did the Lord have to say about it?
“Then saith Jesus to him, Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword. Or thinkest thou that I cannot now call upon my Father, and he will furnish me more than twelve legions of angels? How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?” Matthew 26 vv 52-54. Not a natural reaction, but it was Christ’s.
I’m saying this as much to myself as to anyone else, and pray that I will be able to do it as well.
God bless you all.
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