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October 7, 2020 8:00 pm
In one of Dr. Seuss’s whimsical stories, he tells of a “North-Going Zax and a South-Going Zax” crossing the Prairie of Prax. Upon meeting nose to nose, neither Zax will step aside. The first Zax angrily vows to stay put—even if it makes “the whole world stand still.” (Unfazed, the world moves on and builds a highway around them.)
The tale offers an uncomfortably accurate picture of human nature. We possess a reflexive “need” to be right, and we’re prone to stubbornly cling to that instinct in rather destructive ways!
Happily for us, God lovingly chooses to soften stubborn human hearts. The apostle Paul knew this, so when two members of the Philippian church were squabbling, he loved them enough to call them out (Philippians 4:2). Then, having earlier instructed the believers to have “the same mindset” of self-giving love as Christ (2:5–8), Paul asked them to “help these women,” valued coworkers with him in sharing the gospel (4:3). It seems peacemaking and wise compromise call for team effort.
Of course there are times to take a firm stand, but a Christ-like approach will look a lot different than an unyielding Zax! So many things in life are not worth fighting over. We can bicker with each other over every trivial concern until we destroy ourselves (Galatians 5:15). Or we can swallow our pride, graciously receive wise counsel, and seek unity with our brothers and sisters.
Welcome to today's encouragement from our daily. Today's reading titled Zack's nature was written by Tim Gustus and in one of Dr. Seuss's whimsical stories he tells of a North going. Zack's the South going Zack's crossing the Prairie of praxis. Upon meeting nose to nose.
Neither Zack's will step aside. The first sax angrily vows to stay put, even if it makes the whole world stand still unfazed to the world moves on and builds a highway around them. The tale offers an uncomfortably accurate picture of human nature. We possess a reflexive need to be right and we are prone to stubbornly cling to that instinct and rather destructive ways. Happily for us. God lovingly chooses to soften stubborn human hearts.
The apostle Paul knew this. So when two members of the Philippian church were squabbling.
He love them enough to call them out, then having earlier instructed the believers to have the same mindset of self giving love as Christ. Paul asked them to help these women valued coworkers with him in sharing the gospel.
It seems peacemaking and wise compromise call for team effort.
Of course there are times to take a firm stand but a Christlike approach will look a lot different than an unyielding sax. So many things in life aren't worth fighting over. We can bicker with each other over every trivial concern until we destroy ourselves where we can swallow our pride graciously receive wise counsel and seek unity with our brothers and sisters. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Philippians chapter 4 verses one through seven. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you who I love and long for my joy and crown stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends, I plead with you Odie and I plead with sin to see to be of the same mind in the Lord yes and I ask you my true companion help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel along with Clements and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice, let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus else pray. Dear Jesus, help us to love others today and every day with a lot of that is genuine man to our stubborn ways and keep us from stirring up strife, let our gentleness be evident to all, so that others will be attracted to us in question.
What makes us so different.
Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen on today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
