Hello Sermon Index friends,
This afternoon I had the displeasure of being on the recieving end of some harsh insults from a complete stranger. I was immediately struck by how off balance such a random encounter made me feel. I tried to shrug off this fellows comments, but admittedly they stuck with me for a couple of hours. I realized the reason I was struggling over such small words was because they caused me to see myself differently...I was rechecking my identiy...which is quite remarkable considering I didn't know this person, and he didn't know me! It just goes to show how fragile I really am. God knows better then I.
I've long come to believe that the deepest pain we feel from an abusive event, whether it was a few hours ago, or many decades ago, doesn't come from the event itself. Afterall, the event is in the past. Rather it is that the event allowed a lie about us to take root within our beings. Therefore, healing from a past inward hurt doesn't come from simply forgetting the past event; healing begins with replacing the lie about our old identities with the truth of our new identity in Christ.
This is surely one reason the Bible is concerned with the identities of God's people. Both the Old and New Testaments contain persistent themes of knowing who we are, and believing and living accordingly.
Because of the increase of wickedness in this present age, the love of most is growing cold. People are learning to mistrust each other, often feeling they are in a zero-sum gain contest with the world. As a result, they become cruel hearted.
Tearing someone's identity down is the very essence of cruelty, especially when this happens from fellow believers. Likewise, affirming someone's true worth, and especially reminding fellow believers of their identity in Christ, is the very essence of kindness.
Consider these many instructions to not only be kind, but to put on kindness. Or perhaps we could say, to put on an identity of kindness:)
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So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; -Collossians 3:12
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, -Galatians 5:22
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. -Ephesians 4:32
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. -Proverbs 16:24
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. -1 Cortinthians 13:4
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. -Job 4:4
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. -Ephesians 4:29
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. -1 Thessalonians 5:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. -Proverbs 25:11
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! -Proverbs 15:23
Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; -Ecclesiastes 10:12
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. -Proverbs 22:11
Blessings,
MC