Friday; August 14

 

How do we defend ourselves against those in the world who attack our values, principles and doctrine?  One thing for certain about being a believer is that someone, somewhere is going to challenge our faith and they might even get nasty about it.  There are a couple of points that need to be made about this statement – first, this shouldn’t surprise us and second, we need to be prepared to respond to it appropriately.  While it is tempting to fight fire with fire and retaliate against them with equal vigor and vile, that isn’t the way the Lord wants us to respond.  When the Apostle Paul taught the minister, Titus, how to teach others he noted, “… urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,  sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8).  In other words, when we are being challenged for our faith, it must be our faith that defends us.  When people attack us, we must allow our convictions, good deeds, purity and dignity do the talking for us.  We shouldn’t (and mustn’t) retaliate or trying to drag them through the mud. 

Let’s be prepared for people who take exception to us and our way of life.   When we do, we can defend our lives and defeat their criticism with respectability.

Think About It!

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