Today's Devotional

 

November 6, 2007

                                                                                  

Subject:   Try The Soft Answer 

Proverbs 15:1 - "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." 

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It happens most every week at my high school.  I have to get between two people who have decided that they would rather settle the score with fisticuffs.  It's pretty much the same story every time, he or she said something that the other person didn't like so the other party responds with something they don't like and it keeps spiraling upward with shouts of obscenities and hatred until one party decides he or she will initiate the physical part of it.  

It sounds crazy when we talk about it removed from the heat of the moment, but many of us do the exact same thing in our lives.  I think about it sometimes when one of my daughters gets me all fired up about something or even when they respond to me inappropriately.  The scripture seems to work better the madder the offending party is.  I remember once when my oldest daughter was quite upset and yelled, "Daddy, you're mean!"  She had nothing else to say when I responded, "yeah but I love you so much." 

Believers should be the peacemakers.  This scripture tells us one of the tools we can use towards becoming that.  There is little doubt that you'll have plenty of opportunities to try it today.  Give the soft answer.   

Carlen