I Will Sing to the Lord

Scripture:
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    as I rejoice in the Lord.
But may sinners vanish from the earth
    and the wicked be no more.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

    Praise the Lord.

Psalm 104:33-35

 

I didn't really feel like blogging today, so I'll let my heart sing instead ...

 

 

 

 

Return Trust for God's Love

Scripture:
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.
Psalm 86:1-4

Observation: God loves us first - he loved us before he even created us. However, once on earth our relationship with him depends upon our response to his love. Reflecting that right two-way relationship with God, the psalmist (David) shows that God acts with us and for us when we are relating correctly to him. God will hear us when we display our need for him; He guards us when we are faithful; He is merciful when we call upon him; He give us joy when we place our trust in him.

Application: How many times a day do I ask God for help? Probably not enough. However, here's an even better question ... How many times a day do I give God my full trust? How many times do I tell him I need him, I call upon him, I faithfully hand my needs to him?

If I answered "rarely", I am probably giving myself too much credit.

Now is the time I need to entrust my life to God. Not my salvation - my day-to-day living. In the hard times ahead, when I will be challenged daily, I need to hand every matter over to God. From my job, to daily decisions, to my meals, to my children ... he can easily take care of all of it and bring ever increasing joy into my life in the process.

Prayer: Lord, I am concerned about what work will be like from now on. I surrender that concern to you. I need you to help me through every daily situation, and I trust in the actions and words you will guide me with. I give you my problems, and I give you the problems that don't exist yet. I know you will give me the strength and wisdom and patience and peace I need in all circumstances. Thank you for your love ... I return to you my full heart of trust and faith. Amen.

Now, we Endure

Scripture: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:3-5

Observation: There isn't much interpretation of this teaching of Paul. Following up on the prior chapters, Paul indicates that people will turn away from the truth, and instead will believe that which suits their own purposes and desires. They will find teachers who say what they want to hear, and will follow them, even when it is lies and myths. But we are to continue to go God's work.

Application: I find it interesting the actions Paul says to do ... endure hardships, be an evangelist, and do the work of the church.

For a long time now, the church in the United States has gladly done the third one - done our ministries. We have struggled to do the second - evangelism - with uneven results. We have never had to really do the third, at least not for about 240 years.

That is going to change. It is going to change now, change rapidly, and change painfully. It is going to push every single true believer in the U.S. beyond what we have known. The hardships will mean lost friendships, lost positions, lost finances, lost possessions, lost freedoms, lost influence, lost public opinion.

However, we know we will never lose. We must just do the work God has called us to do. He didn't call us to relax and do easy stuff. He called us to witness and teach ... evangelize and minister. Enduring hardships was always part and parcel with the entire body of work - just ask Paul, who is writing this letter from prison. Hardships were just the part of the call we chose to ignore.

That changes now.

Prayer: Lord, give me strength. Give my family and friend strength. Give our pastors and leaders strength. Give us all your strength, please. Amen, and Amen.

Is Today the Exception?

Scripture: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Observation: Yesterday, we saw that Paul taught Timothy how to interact with foolish people who have embraced sin and turned from God. And the VERY next thing Paul says is ... In the "last days" those foolish people will become so bad that there will be "terrible times" and Timothy should "have nothing to do with such people."

All of these warnings are about characteristics that revolve around one phrase: self worship. People will love themselves, boast proudly, love the things that make then feel good ... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. After telling Timothy how to engage with people on the wrong path, he then implies that these people are beyond hope. (From a pure literary interpretation perspective, the phrase "But mark this" would clearly mean that what follows is specifically aligned as an exception to what preceded.)

Application: Between a self-love that says sin that "makes me happy" is now the definition of love, and a society that has created tools to boast publicly, and clearly no concern about any type of self control ... again, our times align to the last days. I am left with a challenge of understanding what to do. Yesterday, there was a model for how to engage with society. Today, there is the message that says, "But you who live in the last days, don't engaged with such people, as it is hopeless."

Prayer: Lord, I can pray for everyone - those who oppose you, and those just so incredibly lost - for them to find the love and peace of Jesus. However, maybe it is just time for Jesus to return. If it is your will, let's celebrate! I have read the final chapter, and I know you win. Please ... come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Kind, not Quarrelsome

Scripture: Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26*

Observation: This morning, America departed from the "crossroads" and became a nation that has turned from God. Sin is now government sanctioned - sin is the 'law of the land'. What are Christians to do about that?

Paul told Timothy exactly what to do about it. We are not to argue about foolish things. We must be kind to everyone in order to ensure we will someday retain the ability to teach. We must not take on "opponents", but rather be gentle toward them so that LATER they may repent, discoverer knowledge and truth, come to their senses, and escape Satan's trap.

Application: It is all right there, so black and white. When we encounter "foolish"* arguments, we are not to quarrel, but rather to be kind and gentle. We are to do this so that later we may still be able to engage in meaningful conversations that instruct others so they may repent. Then after they repent, they can learn and escape from the traps of sins Satan has put into their lives.

And that is what is happening today. We all know it. However, Christians (myself included) will want to react as if we have been attacked today. We must all remember that we have not been attacked. God is being ignored, and he will address that at every level (national an individual) in his time, in his way, for his purposes. For us, today may make future conversations harder, but it does not change the message; it does not change the truth of the gospel ... that salvation for all is found through faith in Jesus, the son of God, who loves the world so much that he sacrificed his own son to reconcile anyone who believes to him, for eternity.

* A "fool" is almost always a translation of the term that refers to someone who does not obey God.

Prayer: Lord, keep your people strong, faithful, and patient today. Remove harsh words and defensive tones from our lips. Give us gentleness in public, and your eyes so that we may see the broken for whom they are - people still loved by you. I know the times in which I live, Lord, but most of all I know for whom I live - I live for you, for Jesus, and for your kingdom come. Amen, and Amen.

The Lord's Punishment

Scripture: Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash. 2 Chronicles 24:12

Observation: Joash had himself respected God. He had kept the commands, repaired the temple. He "did what was right in he eyes of the Lord." However, he was punished as a result of the actions of his people, Judah.

Application: God is always working both within the lives of individuals, and at the "big picture" level. Judah and Israel were both in the process of forsaking God. As a result, he started allowing foreign powers to bring punishment upon the people. They raided and took land, cities and people. This was a big-picture action ... as the nations rebelled, he punished, and even though Joash did what was right he didn't escape that punishment.

We are seeing this happen in the world around us now. We see people - large portions of the world - in full rebellion against God. We see nations that used to be guided by godly principles now abandoning them. And across the board, if you look big picture, we see God responding. That response might look evil - and it is - but that does not mean it isn't a result of God's will in allowing it to happen.

It is necessary for myself and the church in general to consider this: Emerging evil in the world, in the "west", in the U.S., and in Seattle is a response to forsaking God. Sometimes it looks like innocent victims getting hurt, but that isn't the big picture perspective.

What can we do? We can stem the rebellion. We can do whatever we can do to keep people aligned to God. It isn't just about comforting the people on the fringes of society, it is about changing society. We are called to no less than to change the world.

Prayer: Lord, may we remain strong and not be shaken. Give us the courage to change the world. Help me to see how I can change the world around me, influencing whom I can, to keep the world focused on you. Amen.

No PC Prayers

Scripture: Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 1 Timothy 5:22

Observation: Many times, especially in the new testament, elders are instructed to lay hands on others to heal, bless, absolve, and nurture others. It is something we do regularly in the church today, and something I have done as an elder. However, in this verse, Paul is warning about doing it hastily, and that warning is associated with the second half of the warning - do not share in the sins of others.

In the case of sin, there is a significant difference between 'absolving' someone - helping them pray for forgiveness and repentance - and in comforting someone - making them feel accepted and acceptable while they are still 'in' their sin. That is the issue Paul is addressing. He is warning Timothy against condoning - even accepting - sin through the act of laying on of hands in a comforting manner. He even goes further by indicating that doing this makes Timothy complicit in the sin, sharing in it.

Application: It is this exact issue we struggle with when it comes to "political correctness". Political correctness always starts as an attempt to make people feel good about themselves. Our job at the church is not to make people feel good about themselves, but rather to let people know they are loved by God and redeemed through Jesus. THAT is something to feel GREAT about! 

However, we err when we start that effort by telling people that everything they do is perfectly okay. That doesn't mean to yell at them about sin! But the real issue, then, is how we pray for others.

We must pray for them as people, for them to feel loved, and for God to reach them. We must also pray for them to be released from sins and addictions. We must NOT pray for them to feel okay about sins, or to be happy with who they are.

Once again, it's about love from God, not acceptance by the world.

Prayer: Lord, keep me focused on the message of your love. That is THE good news ... that you love the world. Everything else follows. When I pray for others, may I be focused on that love pouring into their lives, and trust that you'll take care of the rest. Amen.

First Loved Me

Scripture: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:12-14

After a VERY frustrating week, this is the perfect reminder of how God's blessing has poured into my life ... Just like Paul, while I was in my sin, God loved me first, considering me trustworthy of his love and in his service. He gave me love, grace, and abundant blessing, so in faith I can now return my love to him. Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that you never gave up on me. In all my anger, frustration, stress, and worry, may I never lose sight of my hope and faith, or your grace and love.

I am born again.

Proper Clothing

Scripture: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Observation: Paul has several lists of qualities - and clothes - in his letters. His most famous are probably 'the armor of God' and 'the fruits of the spirit'. This list is interesting in that it adopts some of the 'fruit' into a clothing metaphor.

The fruit of the spirit are qualities that the Holy Spirit imparts to you - they are inside you (though some should manifest externally). However, clothes are always visible - they are, in fact, the things we wrap ourselves in as expressions of ourselves, which we want others to see. Here, Paul lists five qualities with that metaphor, indicating these are external-facing qualities we should want to wrap ourselves it ... these are the things we would want others to see, even to the point of perhaps hiding some of our other characteristics.

Application: If someone were to look at me, would they see these qualities?

Compassion: Probably not, though this used to be a strength when I was a teen. This is part of me I cast aside when I turned away from God, and I haven't found it yet. I'm working on it.

Kindness: Similarly, I am not really a kind person. Sometimes I am, but other times I almost go out of my way to be mean. I really do regret those moments.

Humility: This is the item on the list I actively struggle with the most. I try to serve in humility, but I don't generally adopt this as a day-to-day attitude.

Gentleness: Not even a little bit.

Patience: Again, I am certainly not a patient person in most situations, though I can be toward certain people.

This is such a slap in the face, reminding me of how much I need to lean into the Holy Spirit and make myself adaptable to God ... and thus allow my nature to be molded by him into a more loving person.

Prayer: Lord, I do wish to change. I know I need to be opened to a changed nature - one that receives your fruit so that I can in turn express your love. Please do NOT give up on me!! I yearn to be close to you, and I know I fail daily. Please pour your spirit into me. Please. Amen.

Receiving Correction

Scripture: Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

When he [Ahab] saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals." 1 Kings 18:17-18

Observation: Elijah arrives on the scene in Israel, curses the land, and is gone for three years. Upon his return, Ahab accuses him of bringing trouble on Israel, but Elijah properly places fault - it is Ahab who is to blame.

What is really happening in this exchange is that Ahab is refusing to receive correction. Ahab and his family - the kings of Israel - have offended God. They have worshipped the Baals and Asherah, killed the Lord's prophets, and destroyed all of the Lord's alters. They have abandoned all teachings, and committed all kinds of sins. But when Elijah pronounces the punishment from God, Ahab blames Elijah, and spends years searching for him to punish him.

Ahab should have repented and sought forgiveness. Instead, he refuses to accept that the punishment is even about his actions, and instead wants to kill the messenger who pronounced the punishment.

Application: How do I receive correction? Am I quick, when someone says I should improve, to think "well that's their opinion" or "they have a problem and are projecting it on me"?

Ahab may be an extreme example, however his reaction is common to all of us ... it is difficult to be told you are doing something wrong and the resulting hardship is a result of your decisions. Instead, we feel wronged by the world, or at lest unlucky, and certainly we don't want to hear about it from someone else.

I need to pay special attention to this and ensure that I am open to input, lest my rejection of such correction leads to my destruction.

Prayer: Lord, please to send words of correction my way, and open my heart to receiving it wisely. I would want to know the truth before I allow my own internal lies to lead me astray. Amen.

Real Maturity

Scripture: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18

Observation: While Paul is in prison, there are Christians who are preaching because they are motivated to hurt Paul. They want to gather their own following in his absence, or they want to theologically disagree with Paul while he cannot engage.

Paul's response: So what! What does it matter? Christ is being preached!!!

This is a very practical application of the discussion about "core tenants" of our faith. Christians debate with each other on the unimportant matters of faith too often. Paul is so mature, however, that he doesn't even care about others who disagree with him on certain matters. Instead, he is celebrating because the core tenants - Jesus is the Messiah who rose from the dead so that we may believe in him and have eternal life - is being preached.

Application: In my head, I still hold mini debates about theology. I believe this is good, as it shows I am meditating on scripture and seeking the will of God. However, in my daily walk, it is critical that I talk to people about the one truth ... the Gospel.

Real maturity is when we recognize that only the truth of the Gospel really matters. There are things (like hypocritical behavior by Christians) that make telling others about Jesus more difficult. And there are things (like acknowledging and repenting from sin) that Christians must do as part of their maturing understanding of the lordship of Jesus. However, every day, at the core, I life and deeds and words must be about the Gospel. From prison, that was what Paul's life came down to ... who cared what happened to him - by life or death or reputation - as long as the Gospel was preached.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be more like Jesus every day. However, short of that, it would be good to just be more like Paul, focused on you and your truth. Please give me the strength to put these thoughts to action in your service. Amen.

Slaves to Two Masters

Scripture: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:5-8

Observation: In his instructions to all classes of people, Paul instructs slaves to obey their masters just as they would obey Christ. This is consistent with his instructions to respect earthly structures of authority. I believe, based on the test, Paul states three reasons for doing this:

1) Their obedience will be seen by their masters, who in turn will give them favor. This favor lightens their burden on earth.

2) Their good work, regardless of their vocation, will be seen by God, who will also reward them for good work.

3) Mixed into the good work, they are to also do the Lord's work - the will of God. This would include witnessing about Jesus to their masters. This can only be done within the context of both communication and trust, which must be earned.

Application: We are all slaves in some manner - we all have earthly bosses we must listen to. That relationship makes up a tremendous portion of our time and energy on earth, and practicality says that limiting the stress in that scenario is best for all people.

When I perform well at work, I get opportunities to have some freedoms ... like spending my lunch hour reading the Bible. When I earn the respect of others, I can more easily have conversations with them about my faith and at least be listened to. In other words, doing good work creates the opportunity to do God's work in my location.

For this reason, I need to remain focused on the idea that this is my 'holy vocation' ... for whatever reason, God has decided that my ministry will involve working as a government IT director. He has put me in a place that is challenging from a Christian outreach perspective, and my quality of work creates the avenue for me to take on that challenge. I must continue to preform well for HIS purposes, not for mine.

Prayer: Lord, please do bless this place and the people here. Let me carry that blessing as you would, in your words, in your ways, and in your time. Amen.

A Meaningless Life

Scripture: There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:14-15

Observation: Ecclesiastes is SUCH an uplifting book ... :-(

Anyway, In the long list of everything that is meaningless in the world is this - that righteous people get punishment, and wicked people get blessings. So, the author concludes, everyone should live their lives in a manner that is pleasing and not fret about this - it is meaningless.

What the author is actually saying is NOT to do whatever one wants because life is meaningless. What he is saying is that it is not possible to understand the meaning of the cause and effective of our lives on earth, as that knowledge belongs only to God. Therefore, we should be righteous without relating the results to our actions, and enjoy that life. If we dwell on everything we do - fret about the idea that if we enjoy ourselves too much we may bring punishment upon ourselves - we will not experience joy in life. And that is what God desires - that we receive joy even while we toil on earth.

Application: There is a concept here that can only be found in a very close reading of the text. Life is filled with toil, strife, hardship, and pain, and the manifestations of those conditions have nothing to do with our righteousness. However, we can still seek and receive joy from God to offset those hardships!

This is a very special reminder that "the lord provides" in my life. He is the giver of all blessings, and I know this. Even while I am super-stressed at work right now, he is blessing my life with my family. He guides me to solutions, and provides good food, nice drink, friendly company, and love.

The "stuff" of life is meaningless. The relationship with God, the love he provides, the joy he showers upon me ... and my response to God with love, service, worship, and prayer ... is the meaning of life.

Prayer: Lord ... thank you for your provision in all things. I know you continue to bless me beyond what I could ever deserve, and I also know that, if those blessings were all removed, that would not change your love for me. May I serve you always and only. Amen.

Destiny is a Choice

Scripture: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6

Observation: Paul is NOT stating that there are only certain people who have been chosen and/or are predestined to believe in Jesus, as many, many people have read this passage. The "us" is not himself, his friends, the church in Ephesus, or believers. It is all mankind - humans.

God chose mankind, before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless! With that plan, he then created the world for our pleasure, and put mankind in it. And - full of our own free will - when mankind rejected our holiness and turned to sin, God in his love predestined a solution to that issue ... his son Jesus, sacrificed by God's will, as a glorious example of his grace, and freely given to mankind for our redemption.

In other words, everyone is chose to be redeemed, and that redemption was predestined for all to receive, but everyone therefore can choose or reject that destiny for themselves.

Application: I have chosen to accept my destiny - the love of God, through my belief in the sonship and lordship of Jesus Christ. And clearly if this destiny was offered to me before I was even born, then obviously it isn't something I can earn ... it was already given to me.

This makes it all the more sad, then, when someone "loses" this destiny by rejecting Jesus. God chose them, and they choose the world instead. This is the sadness to see in others: Non-believers are those who have rejected their own destiny in pursuit of some temporal and temporary existence.

Prayer: Thank you, Abba, for choosing me!! It is to your glory that your love and grace is so great that you would do this before I even existed, knowing I would be a sinful being. You love is beyond my comprehension!!!!! Thank you. May I seek your will and your face, by serving all your other chosen people here on earth to the best of my ability. Amen.

Biblical Humor: "I Plan..."

Scripture: But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. Romans 15:23-25

Observation: Paul never went to Spain, and he didn't really "visit" the church in Rome. He would instead be arrested while in Jerusalem, and eventually be taken to Rome as a prisoner in chains to be tried and executed.

Paul learned this simple fact - God does the planning in our lives. Paul usually allowed that, and often told others that even his plans were subject to God's final decisions. However, this time he didn't ... we wanted to go to Rome, and so he had a plan to so while going to Spain. The entire letter or Romans was effectively to introduce himself to the church in Rome and prepare for that.

God used Paul's plan to create one of the greatest treatise on the proper Christian life in history, and God took Paul to Rome. But the plan that unfolded was God's plans, not Paul's.

Application: I am - literally - a professional planner. Everything I do amounts to planning ... strategy, operational changes, projects, task lists. I oversee two dozen others whose job it is to plan, and I correct and train them on how to do it better. I am blessed with the spiritual gift of administration, so my service usually involves planning. I even enjoy planning so much that I am often taking care of vacation plans 12-18 months in advance (and my wife hates that!). It's what I do, and by both training and gifting I am really, really good at it.

And God laughs.

When I plan, I need to likewise be open to God's plan. When I try to sort out my days, I need to be open to God's interruptions. When I organize my weekends, I must listen to God's changes. That is NOT to say I shouldn't plan, but then I need to allow room for - and in fact expect - God to use my plan to work into his purpose.

That is how a faithful plan benefits God. It isn't that the plan doesn't exist, it's that it is made then laid before God to be used by him.

Prayer: Lord, I plan to change my weekly routine. I plan to seek new ways to serve you by day in the downtown Seattle area, and I plan to seek new ways to testify about you here at work. Those plans I lay before you now. Take them, correct them, and make them yours. Amen.

Speaking to Fools

Scripture:
Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.
Proverbs 23:9

Observation: This is SO packed with meaning, especially after understanding the double meaning of the word "fool" throughout Proverbs. It contains its basic meaning - a foolish person - but also implicit meaning ... a non-believer or someone opposed to God's teachings.

Application: This applies to me in almost ever moment of every day ...

June is "Pride Month" and as a government employee, I am inundated every day about information for the month on how to support the LGBT community. And I am saying nothing ... entering a discussion on the subject of proactively supporting this cause would preclude me from EVER speaking positively about Jesus to another person.

We are in the midst of the most famous gender reassignment case in history. I must not engage in any conversation about that. Anything I say would sound like judgment, and I see no way the church can ever reach anyone with a message of love when we are perceived as judgmental and therefore full of hate.

Today, a lower level manager refused to obey instructions from me, despite the fact I am both right and supported by the entire senior management team. I stopped the conversation and will wait for him to receive better 'guidance', as every road forward is now full of anger and conflict, and if I proceed I will be viewed as a bully by others.

In all cases, we must never condone or support sin. However, we must heed that the word Solomon used wasn't "wrong" but "fool". Fool implies ignorance - lack of knowledge and understanding. An evil person is to be opposed ... a fool is to be nurtured and educated with kindness and love. In many cases, the fewer words, the better, for words create anger and conflict.

I will hold my tongue, educate when I can, and love following the example of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, may all those around me begin to see - and hear - more of you, and less of me. Amen.