Thursday, February 29, 2024

2 Timothy 2:24-25
²⁴ A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. ²⁵ Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

Sometimes, I wonder if I’m a servant of the Lord.

I start off fairly well. I can usually avoid quarreling and didn’t grow up in a heated household. When I became a police officer, I had a hard time comprehending how people could believe their issues would be resolved by yelling, screaming, and throwing things at each other. I’m not like them!

But when I get to the part that says I must be kind to everyone … I’m certainly not like that either! Every dictionary I’ve ever looked in defines “everyone” as, well, everyone! How on earth is one expected to be kind and patient with everyone? Not everyone deserves kindness or patience, especially when they are standing on my last nerve! And if I “gently instruct” those who oppose the truth, will they even hear me?

Then I remember how gently God dealt with me when I deserved nothing but death. The people he put in my life were kind and patient with me as, with difficulty, I repented of my hard heart. When I strayed from the correct path, God instructed me and changed my heart through them.

I want my why to result in my what.

It hasn't been easy, but here are three techniques I’ve found helpful.

• Pray that your actions, which always speak louder than words, match the person you say you are in Christ.
• When you write an email or respond to a social media post, try to look at the response through the eyes of the reader, then reconsider or rewrite it if necessary. Aim to be kind and patient.
• Earn trust by listening and responding thoughtfully. The time will come when you can gently instruct those who have been misled by worldly ideas and values. If kindness has led the way, then together, you can learn and move into the truth God has for you.

To accomplish this, you will need to lean into God’s strength. It’s his kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4), but that kindness must manifest in you! Remember, you may be the only “Bible” some people ever see.

Questions:
Does your online behavior reflect the mind and heart of a follower of Jesus? If not, why?

Next Steps:
Take some time to think about your online presence and consider if it harms your character or voids your purpose as a Christ follower. If you’re brave, ask some of your friends what they think about it.

Prayer:
Jesus, I want to be your servant. You are very clear about how that should look. Help me admit where I fall short of your standard, and give me the desire to change that so I represent you well. I know I won’t always be successful, but I also know I can up my game! Help my actions match up with my words, my insides be the same as my outsides. I want to live a life of integrity with you alone on the throne of my heart. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Today’s post was written by Lauri White, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.

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