ODJ: glow worms

February 19, 2015 

READ: Romans 12:1-5 

Don’t think you are better than you really are (v.3).

In response to a critic, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once replied, “We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow-worm.”

Today at a children’s football game I saw a very different, yet increasingly common, response to criticism. Rather than using humour or graciousness to diffuse a situation, a group of parents nearly stormed the field when a referee penalised a player on their team. When the player rudely talked back to the referee, the parents shouted, “Way to go! You were right, and you need to let that ref know it!” The more rudely the boy behaved, the louder the parents cheered and demonstrated complete ignorance and disregard of God’s basic command: “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority” (1 Peter 2:13).

Though I haven’t (and hopefully never will!) speak disrespectfully to a referee, what I saw this morning caused me to reflect on ways that I—and other people—can be pursuing mature ways to react to misunderstandings.

Relying on the strength and grace Jesus has provided, let’s make it our goal to follow these biblical principles as we interact with others in person or via social media:

• Pursue holiness. This means using our bodies, especially our mouths that can form helpful or hurtful words, as “living and holy [sacrifices]” (Romans 12:1).
• Be humble and honest. “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (v.3).
• Be considerate of other believers. For “we all belong to each other” (v.5).

Misunderstandings happen, but may our words and responses glow with the grace God has shown to us! —Roxanne Robbins

365-day plan› Numbers 13:1-14:4