[The Mayor]

January 9, 2006

Burying Our Heads

Read:
2 Samuel 12:1-14

If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. —Galatians 6:1

Bible In One Year: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7

Contrary to common belief, the ostrich does not bury its head in the sand to ignore danger. An ostrich can run at a speed of 45 miles per hour, kick powerfully, and peck aggressively with its beak. As the largest and fastest bird in the world, it doesn't need to bury its head.

"Burying your head in the sand" is a saying that describes someone who wants to ignore his shortcomings or those of others. The prophet Nathan did not allow King David to forget his sins of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:1-14). It took a brave man to confront a king about his errors. Yet Nathan was obedient to God and wise in his approach.

The apostle Paul urged the early church to confront sin. He said, "If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). We are to confront our brothers and sisters in Christ about their sin with the view of restoring them to fellowship with God. We must also recognize that we are not immune to the same temptations.

We shouldn't go looking for sin in the lives of other believers, of course. But neither should we bury our head in the sand when it needs to be confronted. —Albert Lee

Father, help me live today
With thoughtfulness in what I say,
Confronting wrong with truth and fact,
Expressing gentleness and tact. —Hess

Slander seeks to destroy; rebuke seeks to restore.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Developing The Art Of Gracious Disagreement

[luvie]

Good evening Mayor! Hope your weekend was just wonderful and you had a chance to enjoy the bit of sunshine that you had.

Thank you for our beautiful lesson in God's Word. The key in that scripture is to "restore a sinner in love". For if we just say the words and don't do it in love, then we are sinning ourselves.

[.30Carbine]

"If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).

I just now finished reading and praying over that very passage of Scripture in my personal devotions this morning! I am in awe of how our gracious God through His Word and Spirit "works all things together for good to those who love Him and are Called according to His purpose (Romans 8:38)." What never ceases to amaze me is that He does it down to the minutest detail! Even here, even for me, even with this one word of Wisdom from His Book, even through FR and through you to me, Mayor! O! Awesome, glorious Father! Thank You for Who You Are and How You Move on our behalf as Your Children in Jesus Christ Your Beloved!

My prayers are focused on my brother's family and specifically his wife and how my sister and I and our dad can help them in their functional family dynamics. It is such a delicate matter and previous attempts to "bind up" and to "restore" and to "heal" have not been successful. Oh, what wisdom and gentleness is needed!

I can't thank our Lord enough for the happy moving of His Power and Love this morning through that specific devotion and through you, Mayor!

Father, help me live today
With thoughtfulness in what I say,
Confronting wrong with truth and fact,
Expressing gentleness and tact. —Hess



Amen.

[.30Carbine]

Slander seeks to destroy; rebuke seeks to restore.

That proverb is right in line with this one:

Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:5

I've also spent much time contemplating Proverbs 17:17a

A friend loves at all times.

I've spent so much time with that little pearl of wisdom and instruction because I have not yet learned what love looks like in every single situation. Our Lord and His Word give us "all we need for life and godliness," truly, but applying that "all" with wisdom in every circumstance requires insight beyond what I currently have! (And yet, My Jesus Christ has shown me that "in the multitude of counselors there is wisdom," that "His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," and that His Manna to me is "daily". Amen.)

Truly it is Christ Jesus that is the Friend Who Always Loves, who always knows how to love, for love comes in many forms, even in rebuke, as your devotion so truthfully points out! I so want to "grow up into Him who is my Head!"

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I thought I would pop in on yall here at the finest today and see what kind of interesting things were going on. Wonderful reading today Mayor. I will read it all! God bless our troops and all of FRs Finest!

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for Bringing to us this Daily Devotional that is a Source of Edification and Instruction to Many! Our God Ever Bless your Ministry to His Lambs.

Colleen, your Post at #5 Brought Tears to my Eyes. Hugs, and Love in God to you, sweet FRiend.

Luv, your Graphic in #10 is Beautiful. Your son is in my Prayers to our Gracious One!

Dolly, your Post at #40 is Lovely.

Meg, I Love your Beautiful Work whenever I am Blessed to See it!

Lady Maggie, the Sweetness of your Prayer Recently for Dolly is still with me whenever I Think of it. (I was Lurking, and Received a Blessing from your Prayer! Thank you, and Praise Be to our King!)

God Bless you All, Finest Friends!