Are you feeling hurt, furious and mad as can be, because of a circumstance or a person? But when you are asked “How are you?” you smile and say “I’m fine.”
For some reason, we think that Christianity is to control our emotions. We think “As long as I don’t let my anger show, I’m being a good Christian.” Unfortunately, holding it in isn’t dealing with it. The Christian life isn’t a matter of improving your acting ability. It’s a matter of yielding yourself to God’s Spirit, in whatever circumstances you might find yourself.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to reflect on our behavior! Are we truly living the abundant life God has for us, or are we settling for less? One of the ways we can think about this is to ask ourselves, “Am I carnal or am I spiritual?” These are two biblical words with important implications. Knowing what these words mean, and understanding how they play out in our lives, can determine the difference between having effective human relations and poor human relations.
What’s the attraction that draws people into a church? Is it an old-fashioned service, planned around formal routine, or is it a modern service with elements of spontaneity? What makes the difference? I believe it is not the style of the service, but what the preacher has to say.