Latest / The Holy Pause / Disrupting the Cycle of Negativity

Transcript

Disrupting the Cycle of Negativity · The Holy Pause

• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: And masters, treat your servants considerately.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: Be fair with them.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget for a minute that you too serve a master, God in heaven.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Pray diligently.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Stay alert with your eyes wide open in gratitude.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Even while I'm locked up in this jail.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: Pray that every time I open my mouth, I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Use your eyes as you live and work among outsiders.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: Don't miss a trick.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: Make the most of every opportunity.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Be gracious in your speech.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation,
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: not put them down, not cut them out.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: Darkness cannot drive out darkness.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Only light can do that.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Hate cannot drive out hate.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Only love can do that.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Have you ever been able to yell your way into good mood?
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: I have definitely tried.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: And so I can attest to the fact that it does not work.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Ever.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's easy to look at our culture and notice what's wrong.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: We see division, hostility, negativity, and a lack of hope.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Our instinct tends to be to complain about that which isn't going well,
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: or those things we can see that are negative.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: There's a reason for cliche terms like misery loves company.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: But Paul gives us a different response in Colossians 4 verses 1 through 6.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Paul encourages prayer paired with wide and grateful eyes.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: Those two things working together According to Paul,
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: just might open the door of opportunity to let Jesus into every situation.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Think about a cold room.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: Complaining about the temperature doesn't make it warmer.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Someone has to actively do something about the cold to change it.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: In the same way,
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: complaining about a spiritually cold culture or complaining
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: about what those people do or what is happening over there doesn't change anything.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: We are called to bring warmth to a cold world,
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: but consistently pointing to the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all things.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Through our speech and actions, we are steeped in love.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Our conversations should leave people with a clearer picture of Christ's active love
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: in the world, not simply a list of what's wrong around us.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: Every interaction is an opportunity to either add to the coldness or to bring
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: the warmth of God's grace.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: May we be the sparks of love and grace that ignite the fire of love the world needs.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Ask yourself a rather tough question today.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Am I known more for pointing out what's wrong with the world,
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: or for bringing the warmth of Christ's grace into it?
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: If the answer is not grace,
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: be intentional today in noticing and responding to the world around you.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Not with the negativity that is so readily available,
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: but with the grace and joy that God builds into every opportunity.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: Join me in prayer.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, help me resist the temptation to simply complain about the darkness around me.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_00: Fill my heart with your grace so that my words are seasoned with kindness, truth, and wisdom.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: Make me someone who brings warmth, hope, and the light of Christ into every conversation.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: This podcast was written by Catherine Piper and recorded
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: by Reverend Elizabeth Troyer with audio engineering and editing assistance
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: from Jermaine Taylor.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: This podcast will always be free.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: But if you would like to donate to our online ministry,
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: you can do so at wakeforestpres.org slash gift.