This week I’m taking you back in time to a devotional I wrote in 2011. It proved to be a good reminder, but also showed me how far I have come in stopping to think what is right before answering over the last 5 years. I hope it is encouraging to you! I would love to hear your comments!
2MefromHim Devotionals
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side
in the cause of the gospel….” Philippians 4:2-3
The words stung like a whip striking out of nowhere, biting and tearing at my heartstrings. A seemingly innocuous comment had provoked a harsh and unexpected response. My first response was to strike back.
As I began to formulate my answer, the phone rang. On the other end I heard the voice of my sister—my “loyal yokefellow.” She listened to my planned reply. In her gentle way she reminded me of what our dad used to say. He always said no matter what anyone else does, it is our responsibility to do the right thing.
Tweet: [N]o matter what anyone else does, it is our responsibility to do the right thing.
I was reminded of these two women in Philippians, Euodia and Syntyche. These were obviously Christian women who had worked hard alongside Paul for the sake of the gospel. They must have had an ongoing dispute that was affecting other people for him to address it publicly, yet he only gives two verses to the matter. Agreeing with one another in the Lord means to set aside our own feelings in order to do what pleases Him. Make God and His kingdom the priority.
Tweet: Make God and His kingdom the priority
With the help of my sister, I formulated an answer that addressed the circumstances, not angry response. I offered to pray for the person that had hurt me, and thanked them for a recent kindness I had planned to ignore in the light of their hurtful words.
It was not easy; doing the right thing seldom is. It does give the satisfaction of knowing that perhaps God worked through you to ease a hurt you don’t even understand. You will have peace you did the right thing. I guaranty it will change your heart attitude and allow you to look differently at what you say and do.
Is there some ongoing problem you have that could be affecting others in the family of God? Ask Him how to handle it His way today.
© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, March 2011
About the author:
Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Website: www.normagail.org
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE
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Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173
4 Comments
Oh so true! We are in a few situations and I’m struggling to do the right thing. One involves non-believers who are taking actions that are actively hurting my child’s education. I want to kick and scream and write nasty letters and school-closing complaints, but God wants me to glorify Him to them so that maybe they can be saved. OUCH. Talk about slashing my pride to bits!! And then I remember what Jesus did for me, and I feel stupid being this angry…because lots of this anger is about pride more than justice. Growing spiritually like this hurts but I’m grateful that it’s shaping me to be more Christ like!
I know that feeling, Gina! Growing in Christ and learning to glorify Him in every situation the world throws at us is painful! I’m living through one now. Maybe that’s why this devotional spoke to my heart this week.
I love it when God uses specific people in our lives to speak to us, helping us to see more clearly what it is that Jesus would do! Sometimes it is so hard to make the better choice, but never do we regret it!
You are so right! Thank you, Ashley!