Keep Calm and Carry On!

Being angry over things because they don't go as we would like is really a choice. We can choose to see each challenge as an opportunity to practice patience and kindness.

I know this because of the many times I was tempted to be upset that something didn't happen on time or as I desired. It was the Holy Spirit Who restrained any outward expression of anger and then cleansed me of the temptation to be angry.

Anger does nothing, except if expressed in the faces of others to cause more unnecessary conflict. When we care about others we take into account their needs in our expectations. In fact, I find it better not to have expectations of others, this eliminates all frustration when things don't happen our way.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

Patience and love go hand in hand. When we show patience we are demonstrating a desire to understand the hearts of others.

Romans 8:25

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Has anyone come to Christ because someone else shouted at them or mocked and demeaned them as an attempt to motivate them,......NO, people do not see Christ in us when we act no better than the ugly unrestrained world.

Showing patience is evidence that we are trusting in Christ for the outcomes of things we cannot figure out for ourselves. It shows love to those who might not otherwise experience the love of Christ in their lives.

Psalm 27:14

"Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord."

There is strength associated with patience. Only the weak worry about every detail. I have been weak many times wishing something would happen when I wanted it to happen. I have learned there is very little accomplished according to our own desires, we might as well calm down and carry on with the other things in our lives.

Colossians 3:12

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Romans 15:5

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."

Perhaps we ought to be more concerned about our Christian witness than we are about "getting things done our way in our time."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Then there is peace all the time in everything. Hallelujah

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We Have Seen God's Handiwork in Nature

God says there is no excuse for the unbeliever because they have seen His handiwork in nature. Every human being has been inculcated with the knowledge of God whether they recognize it or not. I know this because nearly everyone finds a form of a god to worship or trust even before they are born again. It is not the God of heaven but they think it up in their mind because within them is the knowledge of God, they pervert it to their own ideas.

Romans 1:18-21

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

This is why when we encounter a non-believer they often apologize for their sinful language even before they know we are Christians. Something in them tells them they have encountered the Holy Spirit, but they think its something about us. I have encountered this many times in my life.

At times I would meet someone for the first time and they would act uncomfortable with me before knowing anything about me and even before I have said or done anything.

John 16:7-9 "…7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"

Have you ever met a "Christian" who acts uncomfortable when we speak of Jesus Christ or when we quote a Bible verse? This is very likely a pretender who attends church but has never been born again.

The gatherings are full of more of these now than those who have been born again authentically, those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. This is why we see so much foolishness and silly doctrine emerging from the gatherings.

People who are not born again will say and do things according to the world and twist the scripture to fit their desired worldly belief system.

When we encounter these people we need to pray for them to become born again. And, we need to pray that authentic believers will not be influenced by the pretenders.