The drivers in Abbotsford are often incredibly  aggressive. They tend to drive too fast, follow too closely, and not use their signals. If you happen to drive the speed limit, you will annoy plenty of people. Often, a lot of horn honking, yelling, and hand gestures are involved.

I know there are plenty of exceptions, but when you drive, you are almost taking your life into your own hands. I’m sure our community is not alone in this phenomenon, which seems to be getting worse all the time.

I frequently have to remember a mantra a friend in our community group uses when driving, “Grace and Space.” It would help if you gave other drivers both. When I am driving, I often repeat that mantra to myself.

We need it in the church as well. You likely know the well-meaning people in your local assembly who walk up to people they barely know and attempt to correct their appearance or lifestyle loudly. It makes me cringe when I see it.

It is even worse when they do it in the community to random strangers.

I will confess that they are sometimes bang on the money with their criticism. Yet, I can almost guarantee that the “advice” will likely be ignored or worse.

We are not called to be the Holy Spirit for others. Yes, there is a time and place for correction or church discipline, but this behavior typically is neither. 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:1-6

We need the grace to forgive, the wisdom to know when to speak, and the space to build relationships.

We cannot expect non-believers to live like Christians. Even Christians need help living as they should. Without the grace of Jesus, we’d be sunk.

I know I’m a work in progress, and much needs repair. You wouldn’t have to look hard to find something to criticize. I also know that God will finish what He starts, so I’ll get there according to His timing—which may not be according to my or your timing.

Please give other people the grace you would like to receive.

Let’s be sure the Spirit is prompting us before we begin to critique others. 

Grace and space, my friends. Grace and space.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

___________________________________________ 

(c)2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

It had been a steep hike down into the valley. At the  bottom, a stream blocked our way to the tiny Southeast Asian village. The water was cold, and the current strong. 

It was too wide for even our group’s youngest and most athletic to jump safely. There is no way that those of us who were less than that young and athletic would ever have made the jump, at least not without getting very wet in the middle of the stream.

There were two spots where a trail of rocks made it appear relatively easy to cross, and several of us made a go of it. A couple of us got across (including me, which surprised me. I usually managed to get wet feet in a situation like that), but several of us got wet feet or fell in. 

About that time, someone from the village saw that we had arrived and brought out a long board that they laid across the stones and allowed the rest of the group to cross on.

Apparently, they just put out the bridge when they knew someone was coming. When no one was coming, they brought it in to keep unwanted visitors out and the bridge from washing away when the seasonal rains raised the river level. Since we arrived a little early, the “bridge” hadn’t been set out yet.

A simple bridge made a huge difference.

Christians are called to be bridge builders.

We are to tell others about Jesus to aid in bridging the gap between them and Jesus. Holy Spirit does the work of conversion; we simply help lay down the bridge timbers by sharing the truth and the way we live our lives.

We are to build bridges of peace and reconciliation. We are to build bridges of love. We are to build bridges into a hostile world and self-centered culture in order that people might find the truth.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 10:34-35

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:13-15

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18

Preaching is more than standing behind the pulpit declaring the truth. All of us are preachers. We proclaim Jesus by the way we treat others and the way we live our lives. 

When our witness is loving and consistent, we preach well. We are poor preachers when we are less than loving or no different than the world.

We build bridges to a hurting world when we preach, either by word or deed. Some bridges are safe and inviting and some cause people to look toward alternate routes.

Until next time, what kind of bridges are you building?

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

___________________________________________ 

(c)2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.