Friday, August 14/Controlling Our Reactions
Philippians 4:5
A source of frustration for Christians is when we desire to control other people’s actions rather than focusing on controlling our reactions! A key to correcting this problem is found in our text today. The answer is in letting our moderation be known to everyone whom we come in contact with.
What is moderation? It is translated three times as “gentle” (Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 2:18) and once as “patient.” (1 Timothy 3:3) These are the positive traits that we need to exhibit in dealing with others. The negative admonition and positive encouragement to moderation is found in 2 Timothy 2:24, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” Our initial reactions are far too often fleshly, not spiritual. James warns us to “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19).
Many situations spiral out of control in a bad way because of our reactions to them. Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” When you are faced with issues that are not the way you’d like them to be today, your reaction may very well be what keeps these things as molehills rather than becoming mountains!
How is your moderation today?
Heavenly Father, please help all of us to be kind and gentle in our reactions to every situation so that we can be calming influences wherever we may be.
