There are times when we are so convinced our positions are right, that we come across angry, belligerent, unforgiving. It might have to do with politics, finances, sports teams etc., but it even extends to our theological convictions. Could it be that a lot of that “angry, belligerent, unforgiving” attitude comes from our own insecurities or inabilities to defend our convictions with understanding and grace? We think we'll win if we talk louder or more forcibly. I appreciate there will be times when we have to be forceful when it comes to God's word, but I don't think that should be our Christ-following modus operandi of getting to the truth. I listened to part of the sermon I preached yesterday and I was struck by the very thing I'm warning about today, namely “talking louder and more forcibly”...coming across “angry, belligerent, unforgiving” to get a point across. The Spirit of God had to deal with me and bring me to repentance.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who deals with this issue. We all do to a lesser or greater extent. We have to be careful here because if our positions are based in truth, let the truth do the convincing, do our homework, know of what we speak, but not by trying to defend our position by forcefully insisting. Our convictions should be based on the truth of God's word but seasoned with grace and understanding. The Spirit reminds us:
“sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make an explanation to every one who asks you to give an account for the confidence that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)

This is the theme of today's My Utmost for His Highest:

“There was nothing impulsive and nothing cold-blooded about our Lord, just a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the line of our own impulses rather than along the line of God. Impulsiveness is a natural human trait, but our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple.

Watch how the Spirit of God checks our impulses. Impulsiveness is fine in a child but disastrous in a man or a woman; an impulsive adult is always a petulant adult. Impulsiveness has to be trained into intuition by discipline.

Discipleship has no impulsiveness in it; it is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. We do need His grace in order to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a child of God, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We think that we have to do exceptional things for God, but this isn't true. We have to be exceptional in ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, and this isn't learned in five minutes.”

We thank God that He is compassionate and gracious to us as He reveals His truth to us. It's not going to be our “forcefulness” that convinces people to see things from God's perspective, but it will be a gracious communication of God's truth that the Spirit will use to change minds and hearts. God put it this way:

12 Now we have received the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit]. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 amp)

My prayer for you and me this day is this: Lord, help us to be more like You...communicating truth with the Godly balance of grace and uncompromising biblical truth. Keep our insecurities and pride out of it. Help us to be humble communicators of Your truth. Amen.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.