Friday, September 7, 2018

September 7 Thought for the day...who is responsible


You leave the office, Walmart, the church, and you are fuming at what someone said or did. They royally jerked you around, and you're ticked. How should you handle this? Who is to blame for such a bitter taste in your mouth? The writer of Hebrews gives us a clear and concise answer!

"looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;" Hebrews 12:15

The writer challenges us with dealing with our own anger and pain. The word for the phrase translated "looking carefully" means to look over, take a supervisory position. It is the same word that is translated "bishop." The writer is telling us we need to take hold of our responses. We need to realize who is really in charge of the way we react to things.

The role of the bishop is to watch, guide, correct, and generally give oversight to the church. The writer is saying we each have that same responsibility for ourselves. As the bishop of our own hearts, we are responsible for what gets into our hearts and our minds and how our emotions will respond to that stimulus.

I often use the example if a friend were to punch me, I always have several choices to make. Was this because of something I said or did? Was it because of something that is misunderstood? Was it because my friend is hurting and I happen to be a safe object with which to take their pain out? Was it meant to be a joke that went bad?

It is easy to blame our bad attitudes, resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, and reactions on others. The truth is we are responsible for exactly how we feel. We have chosen to feel this way. We are the bishops of our own hearts, and if we decide to be offended, then we must accept responsibility for that feeling. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 that love (and we are supposed to be God's ambassadors of love) bears all things, hopes all things, and believes all things. We are to be wise in our reactions hoping for the best, never getting bitter or resentful. If we do, we are responsible, we can't blame others because we made a choice.

God wants us to be the bishop of our own hearts. Part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit's indwelling is "self-control!" So start taking control today, choose to be responsible for your attitude. Decide to walk in forgiveness, love, freedom, joy, and peace. You are the only one in charge of that too. God made the way we must choose to walk in it

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