Peacemakers “A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.” (Proverbs 16:28) Something within us—the sin nature encouraged by the Devil and his minions—motivates us to use something someone has said or done to cause strife between others. We see this in the political world most clearly. If Candidate “A” said something that could be misconstrued, we know for sure that before the day is out Candidate “B” will misconstrue it. Comments said in jest, sarcasm, or slip of tongue will be used against the candidate even if a lifetime of work and words speak the complete opposite of the comment being used. This is done to win votes away from one candidate and to the other, to cause suspicion about the candidate, or to just outright malign the candidate. What is on the surface in politics is often just below the surface in other areas of life. People lie in wait for the teacher, preacher, employer, or leader to say something that can be used against him or her. They will take statements out of context and out of character and seek to use them to “separate intimate friends” and to “spread strife.” Today, I pray that this devil-inspired practice is not found in me. It is the devil, after all, who is the “accuser of the brethren.” He is the author of strife and slander. I want to be one who considers a persons overall character, who brings friends together, who eliminates rather than accentuates strife. Lord—help me in this endeavor!
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 07:07:50 +0000
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