Those were the words that came to mind as I contemplated something that had happened and my reaction. I had allowed myself to use my gift of speech to send a fiery message. I can probably say that what I said wasn’t wrong, but it was the attitude and tone that I used that was. ‘To whom much is given, much is required’
Not very long after that happened, I went to read our nightly devotion with my daughter and the title was ‘Words Can Hurt’ and started with the words ‘You can attack people with words…’, I knew I was being called out for my behavior.
The following morning, I woke up to the verse of the day found in Hebrews 12:14, ‘Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord’.. ok.. I’m paying attention.
Then, I go to the notes section of my phone to write a message I had to share later that day and came across the blog post I had written just last week ‘Wisdom and Grace’ which talks about knowing how to speak with wisdom and grace, even if having difficult conversations.
The Lord was truly speaking to my heart on the subject. And I needed to pay attention. I immediately sent an apology to the person I knew I had offended, and did what I should have done in the first place – made my suggestion privately, and extended grace and love.
What gifts and resources have you been given? I want to gently remind you that God owns it all. He’s asking us to be faithful in the way we use the gifts we’ve been given.
We can apply this to all areas of our lives. ‘To whom much is given, much is required’. When those words came to mind, they were about my gift of speech and words that I had been given, and, I’m required to use them for His glory.
And friends, if there is anything that you are lacking, we can ask. A dear friend sent me the verse that was on my heart, but couldn’t quite formulate found in 1 John 5:14 ‘this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.’
Friends, let us ask our Heavenly Father whatever we are in need of, because we know He answers.
Dear Heavenly Father, I’m so grateful that you are a Father who convicts our hearts but does not condemn us. You lovingly teach, guide and correct us in the way we ought to go. Please soften our hearts so that we may be receptive to correction and as you continue to prune us so that we may bear good fruit, in your name.
