I do not know about you all, but there are times where I forget what I was about to do. I had a different message for tonight that was similar to last nights, but I have pretty much forgotten what I was going to write. This could be due to the fact that there are so many other things going through my mind or maybe God just had a different message that needed to be delivered tonight.
I am sure that so many of us know how Christ acted and what is expected of us, but it seems like as soon as we finish reading our Bible or Devotional, or as soon as we leave the church, or as soon as we get done with some church function, we forget everything. In other words, we know how to act, but we let life or people or the situation or the environment dictate how we will behave.
Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The other day, my family and my wife’s family were in IHOP. After I got done eating, I felt pretty ill so I went outside to get some fresh very cold air. After a few minutes I re-entered IHOP and as I was taught, I entered on the right side. I opened the door which apparently caused a lady to lose her balance. She decided to make some smart butt comment and I stopped. She made a few more comments, then I said well you should not lean on the door.
For some reason, I let this lady and her action dictate my behavior. I got very mad. Why? I am not really sure. Yes she made some smart butt comment, but I could have just ignored her. Instead, I was ready to fight and actually hurt her if she approached me in a threatening manner. She did not, but it took about 5 minutes for me to calm down. While in IHOP, I know I had to get rather loud as I was pissed off.
What would Christ have done? That is a great question and I am glad you asked. I am not sure how Christ would have acted. He may have ignored her, or he may have said something to her in a way that would cause her to stop in her tracks and really think. However, Christ would have done it out of love not malice or the desire to hurt the person.
My wife and son have very mild temperaments while mine is extremely passive aggressive to very aggressive. I told my son that I wish I had a temperament more like his, but I used his excuse of I am not built that way. While that is true, it was also meant to be humorous.
Lets face it, if we want to change we will. We may not be able to do it on our own, but we will make every effort to change and seek help from God. So that is my prayer for today, for God to help me change my temperament. I need to be angry at what God would be angry with, not what the World may be angry with.