Answers… Usually we use words to answer. But answers can be communicated with frowns or smiles….even silence.
The old saying ‘ sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is an out right lie of the devil.
Words do hurt. Tremendously. There is power in words. And that power can be wielded in positive ways…but to do so is NOT to use stronger words or louder voice.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) The Message puts it like this, ‘A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire’
I’ve tested it. It is true. But it is difficult to respond with gentle words. The way the majority of the world thinks, strength is displayed in force. But Jesus showed us thru His life, the characteristics and power of gentleness and humility.
Humility is NOT self-degradation. It is knowing the truth about myself, that I am nothing of myself, only valuable because I am created in the image of God, ‘So God created man in His own image’ (Gen. 1:27) and re-created in the image of His Son. ‘I have taken off my old self with its practices and have put on the new self, ‘which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator’ (Col. 3:9,10)
Humility is knowing who I am, and who I am NOT. And BEING who I am, and not TRYing to be who I am not.
Confused yet?
It is fascinating to study the way Jesus answered people. He had ‘the whole world gone after Him!’ (John 12:19) ….which caused much concern in the world of the Pharisees. Great crowds of people gathered around Him wherever He went…. He was ‘gentle and humble in heart’ (Matt. 11:29)
And He was the most powerful man to ever impact this world.
I want to answer like He answered.
Father, ‘create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit within me’…..help me to always answer with gentleness and never with harsh words…make me more like Jesus today.
