Effect What Is Acceptable

February 06, 2021

From today’s reading…

I pray that the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may prepare you to do his will in every kind of good action; effecting in us all whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

I don’t know about you but my default response to dumbassery is to call it dumbassery, even though I know that’s not kind, patient, or understanding. (Like you, I’m a work in progress.) 

However, sometimes we are called to deliver an unpopular message in a clear, firm, non-gentile manner because our brother is so obtuse and pigheaded that it’s the only way to get through to him. (See Paul calling his reader an “ignoramus” (or “fool”) in James 2:20, Jesus flipping over tables in the temple in Matthew 21:12, and Jesus telling us to “rebuke” our brother if we see him sinning in Luke 17:3.)

So maybe when you and I call out dumbassery it is a “kind of good action,” if we do it for the right reasons, but I know we should not take pleasure, nor should we seek out endless opportunities to behave in this manner.

Our default approach should be kind, patient, and benevolent as long as we create the change that is acceptable to God, which is the only way to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.

Now go sell something.