I wonder how many times I speak or have spoken the words to my children, "be careful."
These words seem to be the mantra of every parent every where.
So much so that these words lose the potentcy that they should instill.
The warning somehow becomes dull.
Overdone by repetition and overused at every turn.
How is one to "be careful?"
Breaking it down......BE: exist; live
CAREFUL: cautious in one's actions; avoiding danger or harm; showing thought and attention
These words have been rolling around in my mind for a few weeks.
I feel a bit like the nudge is coming from the Lord.
The culture in which we live is a constant roar of noise, opinions, and pointless banter.
I find myself admiring those that quietly make a difference by being distinctly different and refreshing in the face of what is the norm of the day.
The norm these days is hurried, busy, indifferent, undisciplined, sporadic, uncommitted and careless.
Utterly frightening, isn't it?
Those adjectives describe me. Not just on a bad day...but often times on a normal day.
Maybe these words describe you as well ...going throughout our day....fighting our respective battles...living our lives....and making decisions.
These words are what we have become...and even what we seem to be ok with.
As a follower of Christ I sense that He is saying to me, "Be careful, child."
As I think and pray and relect on what He means I think I am coming to a conclusion.
In the culture of darkness that surrounds us we must take care to live and exist in a manner that is thoughtful and attentive to what matters most; to be cautious in our actions and words to not cause harm or danger to the cause of Jesus Christ.
This requires care.
Intentionality.
A steadying of the soul that can only be the result of God Almighty doing it himself.
Being a careful follower of Christ does not mean that caution~ trumps~ faith.
It acutally means the opposite.
Faith~assurance in the One that holds all things together~IS the very essence of steady, hopeful, disciplined, thoughtful and careful choices. There is nothing wishy-washy about faith.
As I look at the example of my Jesus I notice how he was indeed careful.
He did not hurry.
He was never too busy.
He could not tolerate indifference.
He was disciplined and measured....choosing sometimes to speak and other times to not speak...to act and other times not to act.
He did nothing sporadically but did all things with passion and purpose.
He was committed to the cause of setting things right again. Above all else...he came knowing he had already commmitted to die.
He was never careless.
Isn't this a lovely picture of someone that could stand OUT in any culture?
He is our example.
Let's be careful wiith our words.
Our tone..our body language.
Let's be careful with what captivates our time and attention.
Let's be careful with our commitments. Good and best are rarely the same and choosing between the two is tricky. Prayer is required.
Let's be careful to live and exist in a way that would never cause harm or shame to the One we profess to love and worship.
Take care, child of God. Be careful.
The are many to win to Him....and so much to lose.
Philippians 4: 4-5 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all."
Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved , clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grieveance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 "...and to make your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
James 1:19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."
James 1:26 "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
