Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Attitude determines your Altitude
Today was the day I experienced the truth of God's words.
Mt 5:38-45
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunis, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
What a long set of verses I've typed! But these are words spoken by Jesus!
I'm taught to be a conversionist and not a conformist. I always ask myself how I can be a conversionist in my school. In my mind, the only thing that came was to win souls and win souls.
But the truth is in the word of God. Winning souls cannot happen until I'm a CONVERSIONIST.
There were some misunderstandings among people today. And unfortunately, I got myself involved. Just because I wasn't able to keep my mouth shut.
LESSON #1: Keep your mouth shut when things happen.
When things don't go your way, when you are accused, when you are scolded, NEVER EVER SPEAK A WORD TO DEFEND YOURSELF. No matter if you are in the right or in the wrong. Think before you speak. PRAY before you speak. Ask the Holy Spirit before you speak.
Obviously I missed that out today. I shut myself up for so many times, but why did I speak! I should smack myself manz!
Anyway, I was talking about being conversionist.
What's a conversionist? Its a person who brings back the original purposes of God.
Because of this experience, I realised that I must really PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. Read the verses above? That's what a conversionist is all about.
The world will do one thing. The world will have one kind of attitude. But as a Christian, or rather, a conversionist, I should have another attitude. And the attitude that I have must PENETRATE the world. That's what God intended us to do.
Converting the marketplace. Converting the bad attitudes in the world.
How should I put it? I should have had a stronger stand in having a most right attitude the child of God should have.
When my friends were angry at that person, I should have done something about it.
When my friends confronted that person, I should have stepped in and change the situation.
Seriously, I was really upset and angry. But I shouldn't have because it wouldn't do any good.
Because of what I did, my other friend might want to make things difficult for that person. Strife and contention. If I had stepped in right from the start, things would have been much brighter and better.
The thing is, if I were my friends, I wouldn't start being angry and upset with that particular person. I would choose to overlook the attitude of that person because I believe in peace and harmony, and I believe in the word of God, which can't be any clearer than the above verses. I wouldn't blow things up like that. Because ultimately, it is God who'll judge. And if I'm being accused, God is my advocate.
I was kind of upset by this person (A) who said I judged that particular person. Who was the one who made a judgement on that person first? Who is she to say me? I don't think I'm wrong by being upset by a person who claims to be a Christian and yet have the worst attitude one can ever imagine. If I didn't treat A as my spiritual friend, I wouldn't tell her that I'm upset by that person BECAUSE SHE HAS A LOUSY ATTITUDE. Tell me, who couldn't contain the anger and frustration in the first place?
I could have quoted 100 verses from that bible that says generosity, big heart, love, humility etc. But I know all too well that A wouldn't buy it. Too proud. (Sorry if you are reading this. I cannot compromise what the Word of God says.) Below are the evidences:
Pro 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Pro 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Pro 17:27-28
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Pro 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correctio of fools is folly.
Pro 13:10
By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.
Pro 13:3
He who guards his mouth preseves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Pro 12:!5
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
Pro 12:1
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Pro 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Pro 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, let you also be like him.
Pro 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Pro 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thursty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
I can quote the entire book of proverbs. Many verses apply to me as well. But I pray that A will understand what I'm trying to convey. Love covers a multitude of sin. But love rebukes too. I really cannot compromise the ways of God.
I'm not perfect. Neither am I judging A. If anyone thinks I'm judging A, then there's no need for cell group leaders, because when things like that happen, when they sense that things aren't right, they won't be able to teach or rebuke or guide the members. They would seem to be judging them. Then there's really no point! Here then comes in the subject of SUBMITTING TO LEADERSHIP. But I'm not a leader over A, so I can't talk like I'm A's leader. I can only 'advise' as a friend.
I pray that A will go on to read the book of Proverbs and realise the truth within it. Know the word of God with humility.
QUOTE: HUMILITY!
Mt 5:38-45
You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunis, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
What a long set of verses I've typed! But these are words spoken by Jesus!
I'm taught to be a conversionist and not a conformist. I always ask myself how I can be a conversionist in my school. In my mind, the only thing that came was to win souls and win souls.
But the truth is in the word of God. Winning souls cannot happen until I'm a CONVERSIONIST.
There were some misunderstandings among people today. And unfortunately, I got myself involved. Just because I wasn't able to keep my mouth shut.
LESSON #1: Keep your mouth shut when things happen.
When things don't go your way, when you are accused, when you are scolded, NEVER EVER SPEAK A WORD TO DEFEND YOURSELF. No matter if you are in the right or in the wrong. Think before you speak. PRAY before you speak. Ask the Holy Spirit before you speak.
Obviously I missed that out today. I shut myself up for so many times, but why did I speak! I should smack myself manz!
Anyway, I was talking about being conversionist.
What's a conversionist? Its a person who brings back the original purposes of God.
Because of this experience, I realised that I must really PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. Read the verses above? That's what a conversionist is all about.
The world will do one thing. The world will have one kind of attitude. But as a Christian, or rather, a conversionist, I should have another attitude. And the attitude that I have must PENETRATE the world. That's what God intended us to do.
Converting the marketplace. Converting the bad attitudes in the world.
How should I put it? I should have had a stronger stand in having a most right attitude the child of God should have.
When my friends were angry at that person, I should have done something about it.
When my friends confronted that person, I should have stepped in and change the situation.
Seriously, I was really upset and angry. But I shouldn't have because it wouldn't do any good.
Because of what I did, my other friend might want to make things difficult for that person. Strife and contention. If I had stepped in right from the start, things would have been much brighter and better.
The thing is, if I were my friends, I wouldn't start being angry and upset with that particular person. I would choose to overlook the attitude of that person because I believe in peace and harmony, and I believe in the word of God, which can't be any clearer than the above verses. I wouldn't blow things up like that. Because ultimately, it is God who'll judge. And if I'm being accused, God is my advocate.
I was kind of upset by this person (A) who said I judged that particular person. Who was the one who made a judgement on that person first? Who is she to say me? I don't think I'm wrong by being upset by a person who claims to be a Christian and yet have the worst attitude one can ever imagine. If I didn't treat A as my spiritual friend, I wouldn't tell her that I'm upset by that person BECAUSE SHE HAS A LOUSY ATTITUDE. Tell me, who couldn't contain the anger and frustration in the first place?
I could have quoted 100 verses from that bible that says generosity, big heart, love, humility etc. But I know all too well that A wouldn't buy it. Too proud. (Sorry if you are reading this. I cannot compromise what the Word of God says.) Below are the evidences:
Pro 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Pro 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Pro 17:27-28
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
Pro 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correctio of fools is folly.
Pro 13:10
By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.
Pro 13:3
He who guards his mouth preseves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Pro 12:!5
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
Pro 12:1
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Pro 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Pro 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, let you also be like him.
Pro 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
Pro 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thursty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
I can quote the entire book of proverbs. Many verses apply to me as well. But I pray that A will understand what I'm trying to convey. Love covers a multitude of sin. But love rebukes too. I really cannot compromise the ways of God.
I'm not perfect. Neither am I judging A. If anyone thinks I'm judging A, then there's no need for cell group leaders, because when things like that happen, when they sense that things aren't right, they won't be able to teach or rebuke or guide the members. They would seem to be judging them. Then there's really no point! Here then comes in the subject of SUBMITTING TO LEADERSHIP. But I'm not a leader over A, so I can't talk like I'm A's leader. I can only 'advise' as a friend.
I pray that A will go on to read the book of Proverbs and realise the truth within it. Know the word of God with humility.
QUOTE: HUMILITY!
# posted by Sarah Loke @ 23:33 
