It's so easy to get sucked in! It's so easy to let the gossip, the negativity, the criticism get to us. When our coworkers, classmates, family members...even our fellow churchgoers become negative, the easiest thing in the world is to go along with them...and, like a whirlpool, we get gradually sucked in and dragged down!
Unfortunately, in our society, this happens all the time!
It is rare, in fact, to find a person who is positive, one who chooses not to gossip or criticize others. One who chooses to 'believe the best' (ala 1st Corinthians 13:7)
If you are blessed to know someone like that, I'm sure they stand out in your life and experience.
They're like a breath of fresh air!
Isn't that what Jesus called us to be, though?
Remember, He said "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden; neither do people light a lamp and cover it up. Rather, they put it in a prominent place, that it may give light to the whole house. In the same way, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16).
What if one of those 'good deeds' had to do with our speech? What if we asked God to enable us to think and speak well of others, and to be positive, helpful, and optimistic--because God is at work!
I guarantee we'd stand out!
I was reading Romans recently, and came across these verses that I haven't been able to get out of my mind:
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:17-21
How refreshing it would be if we lived this out!
If we applied this to our world, in our workplace, our classrooms, and even in our homes and churches!
Instead of keeping score, choosing to be negative, and gossiping about it, we chose instead to be 'the one' who chooses to rise above it. How cool would that be? Others might look at you crosseyed at first...
...but I'll bet they'd want to be around you more!
...and I'll bet they'd want to know why you're so positive...
...and God would recieve the glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment