Thought for the Day: “How do you feel when someone offends you? It’s usually a burning reaction, a sense that your reputation has been assaulted and the offense must be addressed. We react to insults and pushy people with outrage, at least internally, if not externally as well. It is nearly impossible for us to resist the urge to get the last word in, to settle the verbal score, and to put people in their place when our dignity has been slighted. We want to fix their misconceptions. Many people are confrontational by nature. Others avoid confrontation on the outside, but steam about offenses on the inside. Neither approach makes for peace. Human relationships can be volatile, and our handling of them determines whether we live at peace in this world and at peace in our hearts. A person in conflict does not generally rest well at night. We know, deep down, that we were made for fellowship. Jesus blessed the peacemakers. He gave profound promises to those who would pursue relationships of integrity and support. When we do, we find a common theme: the greatest threat to peace is the pride of the human heart. It isn’t content to let others be wrong about something. It feels compelled to set things straight. The result is an escalating competition to determine whose opinion will win. It requires a deep maturity to respond to criticism and complaint with affirmation and encouragement. The pride within us does not want to just let offenses go unanswered. The person who can respond to an insult with a compliment is a person who has mastered pride. In doing so, he has become a peacemaker – an ambassador whose interest in his King’s reputation is deeper than his interest in his own. Jesus told us to respond to evil people with good intentions. That’s an honorable, peaceful response. It doesn’t deny legitimate conflict, but it defuses it. Have you mastered pride enough to do that? (Chris Tiegreen)
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 18:14:35 +0000
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