New Article: The First Step is Always the Same

Have you ever felt like you should do something, but you did not know where to start? Maybe you need to have a difficult conversation with a friend, but you cannot find the right words. Or you know someone who is struggling, but you cannot figure out how to help. You would like to patch up a disagreement, but do not know how to take the first step.

If so, I have a secret to tell you.

The starting point is always the same.

Paul demonstrates this starting point when he writes to the Philippians and says, “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart… I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:7-8).

The first step is to get your heart involved.

When you begin by gathering your love for the person or the situation, then you can speak in ways that will be heard well. Focusing on love first will make sure that your desire to be right will not override the importance of maintaining and building the relationship. Love will give you a “depth of insight and knowledge” (verse 9) and will allow you to see things from the other person’s perspective. Love purifies our motives and helps ensure that we do not add to the problem. Love is always the starting point.

The only exception is if you find yourself in an abusive situation. Then, getting out and getting help needs to be your first move. Even that, though, is a move towards loving yourself.

Whenever I have forgotten to love first, I have only made bad situations worse.

Love is always the first step.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

Comments

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly. https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for. Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task. In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut. It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why. Ben became stuck on the glacier. He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below. That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice. He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety. Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....

Consider This: The Biggest Problem Is Not Out There!

In a time when everyone has a vocal opinion on everything and judgment is everywhere, maybe we need to reconsider the words of Jesus. “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” (Matthew 7:3-5). Here are two observations to consider. First, when we look for what others are doing wrong, we are starting in the wrong place. “Take the log out of your eye” is the first move. Start with yourself! It is easy to judge others and make excuses for ourselves. Yet, that is completely backwards! If we are honest, we never get past making ourselves better. There is always more to do. This, then, leaves very little time to point out...

Consider this

Subscribe

Get new posts by email:

Search This Blog