A couple of years ago I spent a week in Scotland with Nathan Young, missionary-church planter. Frankly, I would not wish to live in Scotland due to the constant pelting of raindrops but that was the only negative factor. The people there were wonderful and the history and architecture were sometimes spellbinding. Glasgow was where we spent most of our time, talking with people and visiting a couple of churches. In the last part of the 1800’s there was a baby born there in Glasgow and he was named Andrew MacLaren. He lived a long time, dying in 1975 and was greatly influential. As a well spoken and well written man he made significant inroads in a variety of areas including social reforms and religious thought. I found a quote from him this morning and wanted to expand on it a little. Here it is:
“Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.”
Some attributes of God are easily found in you and others seem long in being cultivated. Some of us love more easily than others. Joy also seems to be a precious commodity these days among Christian brethren. My wife is instinctively a person of peace where I am more naturally bombastic. Goodness, faith and self control round out Paul’s listing of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-24 and all are results of walking in the Spirit; the three fruits I have not mentioned yet are longsuffering, gentleness and meekness. Andrew MacLaren speaks of this same principle above when tells he us to endeavor to melt the world rather than hammer it. Longsuffering…gentleness…meekness.
Does your life give off the scent of this type of fruit?
It is my perception that people are getting harder, colder and sharper in their deportment. I’m encountering razor-blade citizens all the time now. It seems that we have crossed the unseen “I’m Fed Up” line and picked up a tall glass of resentment topped with entitlement to drink down as we continue past that line. People are hissing more than they purr and the claws come out much more easily than in the past. I wish I could say that churches are immune from this in light of the fact that they are presumably populated with people inhabited by the Spirit. Though the church I pastor is known for its warmth and kind personality, no church is completely immune from what the King James translators called “the gall of bitterness”. Jesus taught us that we were salt, not lemon juice but people all around us are soured and scrunched up in their souls. I see this potential in my own life as I’m still an admitted struggler when it comes to handling lingering stress and pressures without giving in to the temptation to become a little coarse. It may only be 1-2% of the time where I’m prone to develop an edge with others but that 1-2% is a portion of my life which Christ purchased with His blood – how can I shrug it off as acceptable?
Okay…here’s my earth shattering, sea-deep thought for today: be aggressively kind to people. Make up your mind that you are a spiritual radiator, born twice to give off the warmth of the gentler side of humanity. Put some oil on their blade-sharp personalities and see if your own smile has the magnetic power to recreate itself on someone else’s face. Let others out in front of you during morning and evening traffic; when they give you the finger, blow them a kiss! If you have children who are slow to obey, sullen via adolescent hormonal flux, or quietly retreating into their own world, then don’t seek to drive them out of it. Be gentle with them. Be kind to them. Put on some happy-heat and ask God to melt their hearts again. Some of you have spouses who are struggling and they may be expecting little kindness from you. Tensions in the home from finances or bad health or harsh words need to be fumigated with some robust servanthood and humility. You be the one to start the process at home. Why? Because you are the one reading this and I guarantee you that God the Spirit is moving you to say yes.
Rather than hammering my world with truth today I am prioritizing kindness. Truth is ever present and able to render incredible results…if you can get in the door of someone’s life. Kindness is the key that turns the deadbolt. Use it wisely…and often.
Your blog again really brings a wonderful reminder to me. I have really tried, in the last few years of my life, to smile at not only friends but straingers as well. Sometime I have a smile response, but other times all I receive back is a scowl. It is
a challenge to continue to the next person with smiles. I have a dear friend who knows no strangers…instead of just smiling, he strikes up a conversation with them. (People love to talk about themselves and this is a great opening) He has been able to lead others to Christ in so many ways….not only this way but many many others as well. I think my key is to forget myself and concentrate on others feelings. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your blogs and twitters.
Jeff, WOW, I am COMPLETELY convicted. May the Holy Spirit and our Heavenly Father continue to use and speak through you! Blessings!
Wow, that is soooo what I needed to hear this morning, Pastor. Thank you for your commitment to the Lord.