Sunday Reading: Matthew 11 16-17
Key Verse: Matthew 11 16-17
16 But to what shall I compare to this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets and calling to their playmates, saying, “We played the flute to you, and you did not dance! We mourned to you, but you did not wail!”
Devotion:
How many times have you been upset with someone else just because they did not want to do what you wanted them to do? I’m pretty sure that we have all been there and have all been annoyed at someone else just because they did not join in with your plan about what was going on! This week I would like to look into our attitudes to the other people in our lives, both friends and enemies. We have already covered loving your enemies recently so I shall not go back there but rather look at how we act and re-act to others and in front of them.
The first thing we need to realise is that we do act differently in front of different people – and there is nothing wrong with doing that, but how we act may well be in question. Jesus was open to everyone and He continued to try to make sure that people could have ready access to Him when their hearts were seeking Him. We will notice that He did hide from people and that He did have times when He wanted to be alone. So with so much scope for our interaction with others, where do we start?
Well, I figured we should start with our earliest memories and our so called innocent times of our lives. I can look back on my life and see just how horrible I was at times both to my best friends and to my family. I can remember some of the things that I got up to, but try not to remember them too well because I know they were wrong! Most of the things I did not do well were very closely linked to other people not doing exactly what I wanted, when I wanted and how I wanted! In other words, if people did not fit exactly into my ways then I rebelled, got upset, got angry and even ‘threw a paddy’ or two (or lots!). We are still like that in many things we do – so our first step must surely be to try to be more accommodating and willing to accept others for what they want and not just our own selfish requirements.
Points to Ponder:
Do you get upset with others ‘just because’?
What would you do if God got upset with you for not following His commandments?