There is no arguing with a fool

Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
   for the times are evil. 
Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
   just as you say he is.
Hate evil, love good;
   maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy 
   on the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:13-15 (NIV)

There's no arguing with a fool. Sometimes you just have to wait things out before it's time to speak or act. A friend of mine once said that people aren't ready to hear something until they're ready to hear it. Love good, do the right thing and hate evil. Be prudent about your words.

Everybody Needs Mercy

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)

There is a fine line between being zealous to see people come to know the saving grace of God in Christ and acting like a blind fanatic. I once was in San Fransico and walked by a street preacher standing on a corner preaching away. He sounded pretty right on. On of my friends sincerely said, "Amen, brother. Preach it!" The street preacher turned to us, gave us the middle finger and a few obscenities, turned back and started "preaching" again. I think he kind of lost the idea of, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

I think most Christian know people who they have worked with who were or are vehemently opposed to the gospel. They still need mercy, whether they acknowledge it or not. You can't argue someone into the kingdom of God. You may have to confront (in love) arguments that oppose Christ, but, the love of God shown us all by the mercy of God in Christ is what they need. 

Just the Cross

It's just the cross of Christ I see,

  not my sin, he died for me.

It's just his mercy that I need,

  no work I do can set me free.

It's just His grace that abounds for all to see,

  that can even use a man like me.

The chief of sinners is what I be,

  and yet his love abounds in me.

                             By D. Grant 

ARE YOU A WISE GUY?

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13

James moves right from taming the tongue to showing how wise and understanding you are. Kind of like saying, "OK, you talk a good game, let's see you do it." 

At one school I worked at as a categorical program advisor (that means I did go-for work for the principal) there was one teacher that when I first listened to him sounded like a very polished educator. I thought that when I walked into his room I would find a finely tuned learning environment. When I did enter his class it was chaos. He talked a good game, but, his actual classroom management skills left a lot to be desired. 

We all should desire to be holy and to know Christ intimately. James refers to "deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom". Humility is knowing who you are in Christ and living accordingly. We love because he first loved us (I John 4:19). Remember that when Christ taught the disciples how to pray he made forgiveness mandatory (Matthew 6:14-15). When we understand forgiveness we must be humble because we realize our own sinfulness. If it wasn't for God's grace in Christ's death on the cross we would still be dead in our sins! None of us is such a good person that God had to save us. Wisdom is knowing this truth and living, as in treating others with the same grace and mercy God has shown you, accordingly. 

My hope today is not to "knock you down a notch" but to encourage you to remember the grace and mercy God has shown you in Christ. He died for you. Before the creation of the universe he chose to die for you, knowing all the sins you would commit (those before and after you would accept Christ). God is graciously Sovereign. 

Father, thank you for your grace and mercy to us. Open our eyes to see your grace and mercy in our lives. Help us to live in humility. Praise be to you in us today!

WHAT DOES GOD WANT TO GIVE YOU?

"He has shown his people the power of his works,
     giving them the lands of other nations." 
Psalm 111:6 

What does God want to give you?
What has he given you?