Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."¹

"On his radio broadcast Steve Brown explained that when a group of thoroughbred horses face attack from an outside enemy, they stand in a circle facing each other and with their back legs, kick out at the enemy. Donkeys, on the other hand, do just the opposite. They circle up, facing the enemy, and use their hind legs to kick each other! How often does the church [or families] do the identical thing—ignore the real enemy while attacking fellow believers?"²

An old cliché, but worth repeating, says, "The church is the only army that shoots its wounded." Some churches have fought and split over their church music. Some denominations have split over insignificant doctrinal issues. I've seen bickering and backbiting destroy one church I know, and I know one pastor who was "crucified" through idle gossip started by a jealous, critical person. For the past few weeks, I have seen and heard harsh words and judgement from one Christian towards another regarding today's election. And while this is an important matter, we should not forget that God is in control and he has a plan and purpose for anything he allows to happen. Our job is to pray, do our part, and trust Him for the outcome.

Furthermore, when the name of someone we don't like comes up, all we have to do is to say, "Oh him," in a put-down-tone-of-voice, to sow doubt in someone's mind about that person. And when we label people negatively, we negate them.

When we do these things, we are not acting like thoroughbred horses! Let us work on being peacemakers and be living testimonies of the work God is doing in us.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, deliver me from the sin of gossip, slander, backbiting, and divisive behavior. Help me to become a 'thoroughbred' Christian and not like the other kind. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV).
2. E. Glenn Wagner, Ph.D, The Awesome Power of Shared Beliefs (Word Publishing, 1995).

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