The ways of the world are plentiful. They often shape us more than we realize. One worldly way that continues to grow in prominence is the temptation to share our opinion about every headline. Social media is continually filled with outrage over whatever is happening. 24-hour-news channels train us to have opinions over minor things that should go unnoticed. Words are used as weapons to lash out at anyone who disagrees. This is not the way God wants us to live. His way is different.
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20)
We never see Jesus commenting or giving his opinion on the events of his day. The one time he was asked about the latest headlines, he refused to speak on the matter and instructed everyone to repent (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus changed the world by other means. He did not follow the world's ways.
We are not being a light when we do as the world does. When we act like the world, our words and actions go unnoticed or we are seen as hypocrites because our actions (ways) do not match our words. If we are going to stand out and make a difference, we must resist the temptations of the world and adopt the ways of Jesus.
Does this mean we never speak out or comment on what is happening around us?
Absolutely not! What it means is we go about things differently. We are slow to speak. We do not speak out of anger. We refuse to use our words as weapons. We focus on loving and serving the people around us so their hearts may be opened to receiving the truth. Our focus is on souls rather than on winning arguments. We choose the Jesus way.
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