AVOID
A CONTENTIOUS SPIRIT
BREAD
14 Make
every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no
one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that
no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)
14 Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice
with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live
in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with
people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live
at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for
God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the
Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.” Romans 12:14-21 (NIV)
5 Put
to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because
of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You
used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But
now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice,
slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do
not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its
practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here
there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,
slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:5-11 (NIV)
13 A
foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant
dripping. Proverbs 19:13 (NIV)
21 Fathers,
do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Colossians 3:21 (NIV)
15 A
quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 16 restraining
her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. Proverbs 27:15-16 (NIV)
14 Do
everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so
that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a
crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as
you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ
that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But
even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and
service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So
you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:14-18 (NIV)
9 Love
must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never
be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share
with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind,
live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians
13:11 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Let us note how far from satisfactory is the
state of those who are content with sound doctrinal opinions, and orthodox
correct views of the Gospel, while in their daily life they give way to
ill-temper, ill-nature, malice, envy, quarrelling, squabbling, bickering,
surliness, passion, snappish language, and crossness of word and manner. Such persons, whether they know it or not,
are daily proclaiming that they are not Christ’s disciples. It is nonsense to talk about justification,
and regeneration, and election, and conversion, and the uselessness of works,
unless people can see in us practical Christian love.” John Charles Ryle
“Contention, heat of spirit, evil
speaking, and things of like nature, are directly contrary to the spirit of
Christianity, and do, in a peculiar manner, tend to drive away God’s Spirit
from a people, and to render all means of grace ineffectual, as well as to
destroy a people’s outward comfort and welfare.” Jonathan Edwards
“O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.”
Edmund Sears
“Complainers
are usually contentious instead of content, tear down instead of building, and
wear others out emotionally. A complainer’s lack of contentment is often
caused by a tendency to compare themselves to others. Complainers are often
people who relive ugly situations and perceived injustices over and over in
their minds. They are unwilling or unable to let past events or
hurts go. Complainers keep reloading their minds with negative thoughts
and often live in depression, despair, or darkness. Pastor Harry Reeder puts it like this,
‘Selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered people are despairing, despondent, and
depressed.’” Donna
Evans
“Let us note how far from satisfactory is the
state of those who are content with sound doctrinal opinions, and orthodox
correct views of the Gospel, while in their daily life they give way to
ill-temper, ill-nature, malice, envy, quarrelling, squabbling, bickering,
surliness, passion, snappish language, and crossness of word and manner. Such persons, whether they know it or not,
are daily proclaiming that they are not Christ’s disciples. It is nonsense to talk about justification,
and regeneration, and election, and conversion, and the uselessness of works,
unless people can see in us practical Christian love.” John Charles Ryle
“A contentious people will be a
miserable people…avoid all bitterness towards others. However wrong you may think others have been,
maintain with great diligence and watchfulness a Christian meekness and
gentleness of spirit; and labour, in this respect, to excel those who are a
contrary part. And this will be the best
victory, for ‘he that rules his spirit, is better than he that takes a city’.” Jonathan Edwards
“The Bible doesn't change; it changes us. If we
disagree with something we read in Scripture, it's not the Bible that needs to
change—it's us. We must reexamine our opinions and change them in the light of
God's unchanging Word. God's message to us hasn't changed since the beginning
of time. It remains the same: Do not tamper with the Truth of God. Christ
taught His disciples the importance of knowing, speaking, and defending the
Truth because Jesus Himself is Truth incarnate.” Michael Youssef
“Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness
or more hopeful than contrition.” C. H. Spurgeon revised by Alistair Begg
“Let nothing be done through strife
or conceit. Indulge no revengeful spirit
in any case; but watch and pray against it; and, by all means in your power,
seek the prosperity of this town. And
never think you behave yourselves as becomes Christians, except when you
sincerely, sensibly, and fervently love all men, of whatever party or opinion,
and whether friendly or unkind, just or injurious, to you or your friends, or
to the cause and kingdom of Christ.” Jonathan Edwards
HEART SAVOR
· It matters greatly how you live your
life – not as foolish but as wise. Give
prudent thought to your ways.
· Our Maker is God, our Model is Jesus,
our Power is the Holy Spirit. We are
His. We have been ought with a high
price, therefore, honor God with your body, your thoughts, your words.
· Aim for perfection; live in peace. Sadly, oftentimes, it is hardest to be loving and peaceful to those you love the most. The mission field starts at home. May your home fires burn brightly pointing those you love and care for dearly to the Way - which is Jesus.
