A walk with the light

Proverbs 17:14 (NIV) “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” This verse is important to remember in all relationships. When you choose to start a fight about a matter you need to be aware of the consequences. It may lead to destruction of the relationship, the fight dragging on for a long time, or evening opening up emotions and feelings about unrelated topics. A lot of times when I find myself in an argument, I realize that it is stupid, unimportant, and not worth the destruction it caused. Quarreling causes stress, anger, anxiety, and serves no productive purpose.  A verse that I find goes hand in hand with this verse is Proverbs 21:23. (NIV) “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” A lot of Proverbs, the book of wisdom, tells us that it is good to live peaceably and bad to live in strife. It tells us to not quarrel, argue, fight, etcetera. Yet a lot o...

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV) "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." There are many big sporting events coming up. The Super Bowl in American football, the six nations in rugby, the Olympics, and the FIFA world cup. The athletes that are participating put in many hours, many days, over many years training to compete at this level. They deprive themselves many times of things that they would like to eat or drink or do in order to be in the position to compete at such a high level. They typically have...

Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Almost all of us have some sort of conversation on a daily basis. Most of us also go out into public on a regular basis. We hardly recognize the significance of these actions. There are times where I meet people and walk away thinking how hateful they act. I have failed in abundance to ask them if they go to church somewhere. I have been guilty of being blunt and not seasoning my words with salt as we are called to do. We have all heard the saying, "think before you speak." Let us examine both sides. You never know when an interaction may lead someone to Christ. Also you never know who is watching or listening in on the interaction, someone may observe you and be led to Christ. On the flip-side, your interactions with others can most definitely...

Galatians 6:4-5 (NIV) "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." Here we are told to not compare ourselves to others. If we are constantly comparing ourselves to others we will be constantly let down. We may not be as good as someone, give as much as another, and so on. We are called to test our own actions. Are we doing the best that we can? Are we helping those in need when we have plenty? Are we devoting time to the Lord? Or can we do more, do better? We are to take part in self evaluation, mutually exclusive to others. We are to examine our actions alone and determine if we can do more or do better and then strive to do that. If we are doing all that we can do and we are carrying our own load, then we can take pride in our actions. We may not have all of the information when we look at others externally and we may not be able to accurat...