Reactions

Ephesians 4:2 – Be always humble, gentle and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. (GNB)

It is a great thing to serve people, but we are to do so as serving the Lord, rather than as serving people.

I have had many negative reactions from people in various congregations and choir groups with whom I have come to worship God.

The most common is that each time I join a choir group, most of the choristers at first sight say I am too proud, because I try to be calm and observe how things are done in the group. When I intervene to offer my services in a situation which I observe is not going as intended, people say I want to prove that I know so much.

Each time I go to a new station, either at my job site or in the congregation, I always meet strong resistance when offering my services. What puzzles me is that those who at first spearhead calling me names, in the long run become my closest friends.

Jesus Christ offered the best of His services here on earth. Although He was misunderstood, He continued to be humble, gentle, patient, and tolerant. In the long run, it was confessed that "He really was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54b GNB)

It should be clear to us that everybody cannot understand us at the same rate. The way other people see a point is not the same way we see it, but this should not make them our enemies. We need patience and tolerance to believe that, in time, our point may be understood.

Anybody can read and quote the Bible. Therefore, reading and quoting is not enough to prove that we are God's children. Even Satan quoted Scriptures to Jesus Christ. God judges our motives. If we need services and we are treated unfairly, we as Christians should instead offer the best of our services to others and even to those who treated us poorly. That will be enough preaching. Our reactions to situations prove who we are, just like Jesus' reactions showed who He really was. According to whether we are strong or weak in our faith, showing our true character can either strengthen or weaken somebody else's faith. Our reactions may convert a soul.

Prayer: Lord, wash away pride from us, and help us to be humble, gentle, patient, and tolerant to one another as we serve You. We ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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