February 6
Every day remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life. Norman Vincent Peale, The Tough-Minded Optimist
Perhaps even more important than Rev. Peale's advice to remind ourselves daily of our abilities, our good mind and the good we can make of our lives is the more realistic promises in the Word of God that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23) and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Oh, our resolve is a wonderful asset in the ordinary days of life. When we're young, we can resolve to be good students and kind friends and obedient children, but it becomes a bit more of a challenge when we leave the friendly little world of diligence to our studies and obedience to our doting parents.
When we are required to face the less-than-friendly environment of the business world or the challenges of dealing with difficult people, our resources, our resolve, and our patience can be tried to the snapping point. When nothing we contrive within our futile imagination can bring our conflicts under control, we begin to lose our determination—and the reality of our limitations sets in. There is one distinct advantage to coming to the end of our 'self' in any situation, however. It may not initially appear to be an advantage, but ultimately it is.
For, when we have reached the end of our own ability, when there is no human help available, when there is an abysmal lack of natural resources, the only place we have to turn is to Jesus. Sometimes, His voice is clear and His answer is satisfying, but sometimes we are in the same situation that confronted Job. When trial after trial beset him, that man of faith endeavored to cling with steadfast resolve to the God he knew was true and worthy of all his trust. When his wife and his neighbors and his friends turned on him with a fury, wagging their fingers in his face and telling him his dilemma would be over if only he would—and each gave his counsel which ranged from confronting the fact that his honorable life had been a sham to cursing God to die! (See Job 8:6 and 2:9).
Job knew in his heart of hearts that he was trusting, he was believing, he was fixing his eyes on his only Source of help, but in doing all the right things, the right answers did not come. Job could not begin to fathom what was going on in the unseen realm. He could not begin to know that God was affirming His confidence in Job even as Job's confidence was being systematically torn down by his 'friends,' his self-appointed 'counselors'.
After much loss and much confusion, Job came to understand that God had not abandoned him--quite the contrary! God had been extolling him before His ancient foe! (See Job 1:8). We, too, need to be aware that there is an unseen realm where a battle is being waged for the souls of men, where our God and Savior is pulling for us--even when it seems we are abandoned. If we can trust the Lord at those difficult times, we will, like Job, "come forth as gold," Job 23:10. The refiner's fire is not pleasant. We don't seek it out. But when we emerge from it we will see the radiance of Jesus clearly reflected in us.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Transformed by Honor
February 5
No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor. Andrew Carnegie
No doubt Mr. Carnegie, the Scotsman who arrived penniless in America, built a fortune, then donated much of it to building a free library system, would be aghast at the transformation that has occurred in the country that gave him opportunity to succeed and that he loved. We have ceased being a land of opportunity and become a land of entitlement. A full 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes. Many welfare recipients make far more money by producing illegitimate children than working citizens do by their labor. And neither the country nor the people are improved for the convoluted transformation that has occurred here. Honor is tantamount to an unknown virtue. Men no longer count it as an aspect of their character that they value before the world.
We see it in personal dealings where blackmail and deception and manipulation are used to gain advantage. We see it in international dealings where threats of war and economic upheaval are used to gain advantage. We are a people void of honor and integrity because we are a people who have turned our backs on the One True and Living God. We have espoused a counterfeit religion that negates the essence of our Christ—forgiveness and love.
The Bible asks, "How can you love God who you have not seen if you do not love your fellow man who you have seen?” I John 4:20 We mistake our indulgence of the sins of sloth and moral depravity for love when we subsidize them with our tax dollars. Thereby we allow men to go their way without honor, without a call to repentance, without love—and we call ourselves Christian in the process.
WE HAVE PIERCED THE HEART OF OUR FAITH AS SURELY AS IF WE HAD THROWN THE ROMAN SPEAR THAT PIERCED THE SIDE OF JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS!
We tell ourselves that we have obeyed the tenets of Christian doctrine but have negated it by white-washing the immutable law of God. We have deluded ourselves into thinking we are people of honor when honor is the furthest thing from our character. In its place we have cultivated the spirit of evil, which is the manipulation and duplicity of the enemy of God. We are of all people most deceived.
How do we overcome our dilemma? Apart from the love of Jesus, we cannot. We cannot forgive, we cannot love unless we surrender our hearts and spirits to Him. When we do, we will find the peace that has eluded us. We will appropriate the joy that He promises. Will others change when we change? That we cannot know. If they choose to remain in their stew of honor-less evil it will be their choice.
We can decide only for ourselves that we will not allow our inner being to be cluttered with the negativity of indulgence of dark practices that tear us down and destroy our hope. Instead, we will throw open the window of our souls and allow the light and love and forgiveness of Jesus to flood into us. We will let Him transform us—pray our transformation draws others to His unchanging and honorable truth.
No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor. Andrew Carnegie
No doubt Mr. Carnegie, the Scotsman who arrived penniless in America, built a fortune, then donated much of it to building a free library system, would be aghast at the transformation that has occurred in the country that gave him opportunity to succeed and that he loved. We have ceased being a land of opportunity and become a land of entitlement. A full 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes. Many welfare recipients make far more money by producing illegitimate children than working citizens do by their labor. And neither the country nor the people are improved for the convoluted transformation that has occurred here. Honor is tantamount to an unknown virtue. Men no longer count it as an aspect of their character that they value before the world.
We see it in personal dealings where blackmail and deception and manipulation are used to gain advantage. We see it in international dealings where threats of war and economic upheaval are used to gain advantage. We are a people void of honor and integrity because we are a people who have turned our backs on the One True and Living God. We have espoused a counterfeit religion that negates the essence of our Christ—forgiveness and love.
The Bible asks, "How can you love God who you have not seen if you do not love your fellow man who you have seen?” I John 4:20 We mistake our indulgence of the sins of sloth and moral depravity for love when we subsidize them with our tax dollars. Thereby we allow men to go their way without honor, without a call to repentance, without love—and we call ourselves Christian in the process.
WE HAVE PIERCED THE HEART OF OUR FAITH AS SURELY AS IF WE HAD THROWN THE ROMAN SPEAR THAT PIERCED THE SIDE OF JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS!
We tell ourselves that we have obeyed the tenets of Christian doctrine but have negated it by white-washing the immutable law of God. We have deluded ourselves into thinking we are people of honor when honor is the furthest thing from our character. In its place we have cultivated the spirit of evil, which is the manipulation and duplicity of the enemy of God. We are of all people most deceived.
How do we overcome our dilemma? Apart from the love of Jesus, we cannot. We cannot forgive, we cannot love unless we surrender our hearts and spirits to Him. When we do, we will find the peace that has eluded us. We will appropriate the joy that He promises. Will others change when we change? That we cannot know. If they choose to remain in their stew of honor-less evil it will be their choice.
We can decide only for ourselves that we will not allow our inner being to be cluttered with the negativity of indulgence of dark practices that tear us down and destroy our hope. Instead, we will throw open the window of our souls and allow the light and love and forgiveness of Jesus to flood into us. We will let Him transform us—pray our transformation draws others to His unchanging and honorable truth.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Wooden's Counsel
"God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. ... He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back for our wrongs." Psalm 103:8
February 4
John Wooden was the 'winningest' basketball coach in the history of the game at the college level. He was noted for his ability to hone the innate ability of young men and to transform their individual raw skill into the ability to be a cohesive, winning team. He believed in his players and he inspired them to believe in themselves. Wooden's counsel to his teams through the years and to us stands: "Don't allow what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do." In a way, that's what God says to us.
Each of us has our strengths and our weaknesses and He makes it His priority to mold and shape us into individuals who can--either on our own or working in concert with others--be champions at the game of life. He has given each of us a skill set that He empowers us to use to affect the goals and plans He has for each of us. His Word reminds us that we may falter at times, but we should not be deterred by our temporary set-backs--we can't let them interfere with our progress toward our goal of living a godly, blessed life.
Further, each believer has a standard of excellence that transcends the business or professional realm. He carries his qualifications into the sphere of the spirit and he uses them to improve not only every circumstance and every challenge he faces in his day-to-day endeavors, but also to introduce every person whose life touches his to the Christ in whom he trusts. The people he encounters professionally are advantaged by his integrity. Those in his circle of friends are benefited because of the counsel he affords to them in their time of need. His precious children are blessed for time and eternity because he is devoted to their nurture in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
None of us is capable on our own to set the world on fire. We know we require HIS help and HIS guidance to bring us from the point where we are to the pinnacle of achievement that He has ordained us to reach. We must know our limitations; yet, we must know as well that those limitations cannot impede our progress toward the height of success that the Lord has for us. We cannot diminish the God-factor in our potential. We must know as Paul did that, "When I am weak, then I am strong, for the strength of Christ is perfected in weakness,” II Corinthians 12:10.
If a person never felt failure nipping at his heels, if he never anguished over the prospect of watching all his best effort come to nothing, he would have no reason to turn toward Jesus. The bottom line of life is that turning to Him is the only thing anyone ever does that impacts his life eternally. Our God is all about the eternal. As Philippians 2:5-12 tells us, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant...wherefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name so at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God...therefore, work out your salvation."
Jesus cares about nothing but the salvation of the souls of men. He turned His back on His deity in order to bring salvation to mankind. No matter what 'hand' a man has been dealt in life, no matter what limitations challenge him or what skill set he has that enables him to gain victory over the challenges of life, apart from the appropriation to himself of the gift of salvation, he is a pauper in the eternal scheme of things—a loser—and his Savior does not want him to be a beggar before Him. It is His desire that he use the faith, the hope, the truth, the light, the honor, the awards--every good thing that makes up his being--to grow in Christ and to shed the love of Jesus upon those around him. Just as the Lord used His holiness to make us holy, so He desire that we use the entirety of who we are to further His Kingdom's purposes. Nothing else in life matters nearly as much as this one thing.
February 4
John Wooden was the 'winningest' basketball coach in the history of the game at the college level. He was noted for his ability to hone the innate ability of young men and to transform their individual raw skill into the ability to be a cohesive, winning team. He believed in his players and he inspired them to believe in themselves. Wooden's counsel to his teams through the years and to us stands: "Don't allow what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do." In a way, that's what God says to us.
Each of us has our strengths and our weaknesses and He makes it His priority to mold and shape us into individuals who can--either on our own or working in concert with others--be champions at the game of life. He has given each of us a skill set that He empowers us to use to affect the goals and plans He has for each of us. His Word reminds us that we may falter at times, but we should not be deterred by our temporary set-backs--we can't let them interfere with our progress toward our goal of living a godly, blessed life.
Further, each believer has a standard of excellence that transcends the business or professional realm. He carries his qualifications into the sphere of the spirit and he uses them to improve not only every circumstance and every challenge he faces in his day-to-day endeavors, but also to introduce every person whose life touches his to the Christ in whom he trusts. The people he encounters professionally are advantaged by his integrity. Those in his circle of friends are benefited because of the counsel he affords to them in their time of need. His precious children are blessed for time and eternity because he is devoted to their nurture in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
None of us is capable on our own to set the world on fire. We know we require HIS help and HIS guidance to bring us from the point where we are to the pinnacle of achievement that He has ordained us to reach. We must know our limitations; yet, we must know as well that those limitations cannot impede our progress toward the height of success that the Lord has for us. We cannot diminish the God-factor in our potential. We must know as Paul did that, "When I am weak, then I am strong, for the strength of Christ is perfected in weakness,” II Corinthians 12:10.
If a person never felt failure nipping at his heels, if he never anguished over the prospect of watching all his best effort come to nothing, he would have no reason to turn toward Jesus. The bottom line of life is that turning to Him is the only thing anyone ever does that impacts his life eternally. Our God is all about the eternal. As Philippians 2:5-12 tells us, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant...wherefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name so at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God...therefore, work out your salvation."
Jesus cares about nothing but the salvation of the souls of men. He turned His back on His deity in order to bring salvation to mankind. No matter what 'hand' a man has been dealt in life, no matter what limitations challenge him or what skill set he has that enables him to gain victory over the challenges of life, apart from the appropriation to himself of the gift of salvation, he is a pauper in the eternal scheme of things—a loser—and his Savior does not want him to be a beggar before Him. It is His desire that he use the faith, the hope, the truth, the light, the honor, the awards--every good thing that makes up his being--to grow in Christ and to shed the love of Jesus upon those around him. Just as the Lord used His holiness to make us holy, so He desire that we use the entirety of who we are to further His Kingdom's purposes. Nothing else in life matters nearly as much as this one thing.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Ability Is Nothing...
February 3
Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte had quite a grandiose opinion of himself. How else would a humble man born on the French-occupied Island of Corsica rise to be the emperor of France? His ultimate success may have had more to do with the political machinations of his father than of his own prowess, at least initially, but whatever it was, he recognized that he got to the pinnacle of power in post-revolutionary France because of the opportunities afforded to him.
As believers in Christ, we, too, must recognize that all we are and all we achieve are due to the Lord and the opportunities He affords to us. He tells us frankly, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5. In another place in scripture we are told, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As Napoleon observed, "Ability is nothing without opportunity," and his words, though perhaps unintentionally, are rooted in the Word of God.
If we base our outlook on life and our success in attaining our life's goals upon the necessity of our abilities being afforded opportunity, are we scripturally justified if we fall short of our desired achievements? Can we lay our ultimate success or failure to reach the pinnacle of our profession or to become the person in the inner sanctum of our being that the Lord desires us to be at His own doorstep?
In a sense we can, but only if we acquiesce to the reality that He indeed does provide opportunity for our ability. It may not come in the way we anticipate it, for He is the Master of orchestrating the surprise. He is not bound by conventional routes to success. Neither our professional attainments nor our personal satisfaction must necessarily come through the ordinary routes recognized by people who do things independently of Him.
But for those who trust Him, His Word is true. His promise is fulfilled when the prophet tells us "…His mercies are new every morning," Lamentations 3:22-23. That one verse tells us that each day placed in His hand is a new opportunity to do and to be all He has ordained. Will it be today? Perhaps. But if it is not, we will continue to trust Him that on His designated tomorrow, we will reap the reward of being a people who hold on to faith which is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.
Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte had quite a grandiose opinion of himself. How else would a humble man born on the French-occupied Island of Corsica rise to be the emperor of France? His ultimate success may have had more to do with the political machinations of his father than of his own prowess, at least initially, but whatever it was, he recognized that he got to the pinnacle of power in post-revolutionary France because of the opportunities afforded to him.
As believers in Christ, we, too, must recognize that all we are and all we achieve are due to the Lord and the opportunities He affords to us. He tells us frankly, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5. In another place in scripture we are told, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As Napoleon observed, "Ability is nothing without opportunity," and his words, though perhaps unintentionally, are rooted in the Word of God.
If we base our outlook on life and our success in attaining our life's goals upon the necessity of our abilities being afforded opportunity, are we scripturally justified if we fall short of our desired achievements? Can we lay our ultimate success or failure to reach the pinnacle of our profession or to become the person in the inner sanctum of our being that the Lord desires us to be at His own doorstep?
In a sense we can, but only if we acquiesce to the reality that He indeed does provide opportunity for our ability. It may not come in the way we anticipate it, for He is the Master of orchestrating the surprise. He is not bound by conventional routes to success. Neither our professional attainments nor our personal satisfaction must necessarily come through the ordinary routes recognized by people who do things independently of Him.
But for those who trust Him, His Word is true. His promise is fulfilled when the prophet tells us "…His mercies are new every morning," Lamentations 3:22-23. That one verse tells us that each day placed in His hand is a new opportunity to do and to be all He has ordained. Will it be today? Perhaps. But if it is not, we will continue to trust Him that on His designated tomorrow, we will reap the reward of being a people who hold on to faith which is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Addendum IN CHRIST ALONE
Because none of us can face life, let alone life’s problems, by ourselves, this wonderful song touches each of us where we are. I pray the lyrics bless you and that the Lord uses the strength and power of the faith expressed here to anchor you to Christ alone.
IN CHRIST ALONE
By Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
IN CHRIST ALONE
By Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Listen...
February 2
There's a passage in the Bible--I Kings 19:11, 12 that says,"...the Lord passed by and a great, strong wind tore the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a still, small voice."
Perhaps you won't want to hear it, but some of you are raging in an inner as well as in an external conflict right now that approximates the magnitude of a whirlwind force and earthquake proportions that exceed the Richter Scale. The fire of anger and frustration and despair burn within you...
You won't be able to hear the still, small voice of God in the cacophony of your own weeping and anger, even though He is speaking to you. It may not be the way you would prefer to hear Him, but He speaks to you every day in a still, small voice, that although it is not audible, it can comfort your spirit if you will allow it to do so.
One who is truly sensible and prudent will grant the Lord the latitude to speak through whatever or whomever He chooses. Jesus can be found throughout the Scripture for His perfect will is expounded there. He can be found in the writing of godly men of the past. He can sometimes be ascertained in the scribbling of well-intentioned bloggers.
But if you will quiet your spirit, you will certainly hear Him, for He loves you, He dwells within you, He is speaking words of power and truth and hope into you. Just listen...
There's a passage in the Bible--I Kings 19:11, 12 that says,"...the Lord passed by and a great, strong wind tore the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a still, small voice."
Perhaps you won't want to hear it, but some of you are raging in an inner as well as in an external conflict right now that approximates the magnitude of a whirlwind force and earthquake proportions that exceed the Richter Scale. The fire of anger and frustration and despair burn within you...
You won't be able to hear the still, small voice of God in the cacophony of your own weeping and anger, even though He is speaking to you. It may not be the way you would prefer to hear Him, but He speaks to you every day in a still, small voice, that although it is not audible, it can comfort your spirit if you will allow it to do so.
One who is truly sensible and prudent will grant the Lord the latitude to speak through whatever or whomever He chooses. Jesus can be found throughout the Scripture for His perfect will is expounded there. He can be found in the writing of godly men of the past. He can sometimes be ascertained in the scribbling of well-intentioned bloggers.
But if you will quiet your spirit, you will certainly hear Him, for He loves you, He dwells within you, He is speaking words of power and truth and hope into you. Just listen...
Friday, February 1, 2013
Peace
February 1
Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
My Grandfather had another view of peace. He didn't have quite as optimistic view of man's ability to handle his differences amicably. Grandpa said, "Two rats can't live in the same hole."
Each of us comes to a point in our lives, sooner or later, when we have to decide which philosophy we will espouse, that of President Reagan or that of my Grandfather. Will we govern ourselves in such a way as to disagree agreeably or will we fight tooth and nail to have our way? Will we be able to reconcile our differences sufficiently to co-habit the planet with those whose values and goals are far different than our own or will there be war? Will we be able to employ tact and grace to our personal differences and enjoy relative harmony with those who have pit themselves against us, or must we retaliate and thereby succumb to conflict?
Because worldviews are not always ideologically compatible, the best efforts of men of peace have almost universally come ultimately to war. The conflicts between individuals can come to a better resolution--but only if the Prince of Peace is a component of their uneasy truce. Jesus can make a way where there is no way because Jesus can cause even a believer's enemies to "dwell in peace with him," Proverbs 16:7. With Jesus in our heart, we can shed the light of His love and truth and forgiveness and power into the day-to-day circumstances we face. We can be as 'oil' that smooths over the rough places rather than like 'sand' which causes friction.
So to answer the question of whose approach, whose philosophy do we espouse--that of Grandpa or that of President Reagan--we must factor in the degree to which the parties involved have yielded themselves to Jesus. If they reserve the inner-most essence of their self-hood to their own control, their own emotions, their own methods, they will invariably come to conflict just as Grandpa said. If they surrender the inner-most essence of their self-hood to Jesus' control, to His will, to His way, they will come to the peace of Jesus that "passes all understanding!" and it will “keep their hearts and their minds in Him,” as Philippians 4:7 says it will.
They will be oil, not sand; they will be the blessed "peacemakers" who shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:8) and who shall see God move in their circumstances to bring down the work of the enemy which is bitterness and unforgiveness and self-righteousness and legalism and conflict. We shall instead see the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) which reflect the presence and power of God.
Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
My Grandfather had another view of peace. He didn't have quite as optimistic view of man's ability to handle his differences amicably. Grandpa said, "Two rats can't live in the same hole."
Each of us comes to a point in our lives, sooner or later, when we have to decide which philosophy we will espouse, that of President Reagan or that of my Grandfather. Will we govern ourselves in such a way as to disagree agreeably or will we fight tooth and nail to have our way? Will we be able to reconcile our differences sufficiently to co-habit the planet with those whose values and goals are far different than our own or will there be war? Will we be able to employ tact and grace to our personal differences and enjoy relative harmony with those who have pit themselves against us, or must we retaliate and thereby succumb to conflict?
Because worldviews are not always ideologically compatible, the best efforts of men of peace have almost universally come ultimately to war. The conflicts between individuals can come to a better resolution--but only if the Prince of Peace is a component of their uneasy truce. Jesus can make a way where there is no way because Jesus can cause even a believer's enemies to "dwell in peace with him," Proverbs 16:7. With Jesus in our heart, we can shed the light of His love and truth and forgiveness and power into the day-to-day circumstances we face. We can be as 'oil' that smooths over the rough places rather than like 'sand' which causes friction.
So to answer the question of whose approach, whose philosophy do we espouse--that of Grandpa or that of President Reagan--we must factor in the degree to which the parties involved have yielded themselves to Jesus. If they reserve the inner-most essence of their self-hood to their own control, their own emotions, their own methods, they will invariably come to conflict just as Grandpa said. If they surrender the inner-most essence of their self-hood to Jesus' control, to His will, to His way, they will come to the peace of Jesus that "passes all understanding!" and it will “keep their hearts and their minds in Him,” as Philippians 4:7 says it will.
They will be oil, not sand; they will be the blessed "peacemakers" who shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:8) and who shall see God move in their circumstances to bring down the work of the enemy which is bitterness and unforgiveness and self-righteousness and legalism and conflict. We shall instead see the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) which reflect the presence and power of God.
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