Disappointment is in the air. Promises, whatever you think about them, have been made and are being followed through on. It is clear that some of them are not as well thought through as they might have been. This circumstance is in the back of my mind as I see the following in my morning reading:
“Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”(John 13:36-38 ESV)
Peter is often referred to as rash. Speaking first and thinking second, or third…
Yet, when the time came, The Father chose to use Peter as spokesman, to embrace the gentile, to lead the infant church in its earliest days.
The question for us today as we consider our words – spoken, argued, posted or whatever – is … Are we considering our words?
Are we thinking, or just reacting because of fear or disappointment?
Are our reactions to our circumstances causing us to focus so much on earth that our reactions, words and attitudes are rash?
But, take heart, we can still turn to our Father and He will comfort, calm and empower us to be used for His glory.
Even justice, for its own sake, apart from giving God glory, will fade like grass.
Speak in such a way as to give God glory, let our words be worthy of the Holy Spirit, who lives in each follower of Jesus.
kingdom travelin' 
Thx mate for your faithfulness
From: kingdom travelin’
Reply-To: kingdom travelin’
Date: Monday, January 30, 2017 at 7:11 AM
To: Kevin O’Shea
Subject: [New post] Assertions, Proclamations, and Easy Promises
revtomtravels posted: “Disappointment is in the air. Promises, whatever you think about them, have been made and are being followed through on. It is clear that some of them are not as well thought through as they might have been. This circumstance is in the back of my mind as “
As always you ask good questions!
I’ve thought a lot about this one recently: “Are we (am I) thinking, or just reacting because of fear or disappointment?
I’ve come to the conclusion that it IS easy (as you point out) to react out of fear or disappointment these days. But I think it’s also possible to react out of a genuine desire for peace, justice and care for those who Jesus taught us to care most for.
God is Ruler over all. And as partakers of his Kingdom we have the very real responsibility of being light and salt. I don’t believe that ends with proclaiming the gospel. I think it very much includes calling out hypocrisy in self-proclaimed Christians who are influencing masses of people. I believe it means caring in practical ways for the weak, poor and helpless who are most affected by the decisions of the strong, wealthy and powerful. This is justice for the sake of carrying out our duties as citizens of the Kingdom. I believe this sort of mindset is especially important these days.
Personally, I’ve been convicted recently that I haven’t spoken out enough. I believe the time has come for mature Christians to speak more. Yes, we always ought to think first. I think many of us – but I’ll speak for myself here – have thought too much and spoken too little for fear of offending. May we never be ashamed to wisely speak truth to power.
Bonhoeffer is especially helpful in showing disciples of Jesus Christ a way forward when religion is used for political, national and selfish gains. His sense of justice was sharp and strongly influenced by Jesus and his words on the Mount. I pray that the Lord would use people with a similar ear for Jesus’ words and courage to suffer in places where that may very well be the most obvious mark of a disciple.
Jeremy