Forthright Magazine
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Straight to the Cross

Shall we pray? http://believingprayer.com


COLUMN: REALITY CHECK

Are You Sure?"
  by Stan Mitchell
  http://forthright.net/2012/03/22/are-you-sure/

It's amazing how the things people say do not always
match up with reality. Consider the person who begins
a statement with the words, "I may be wrong, but ..."

Usually he really means, "There's no way that I could
be wrong!"

Consider the person who says, "I hate to say I told
you so."

Of course he's enjoying it immensely!

And what about the one who says, "I'm sorry if I have
done anything to upset you."

What he really means is, "You're so hypersensitive.
This shouldn't have upset you!"

There are two things which young people find hard to
do in sports; winning and losing. It's hard to lose
gracefully, and it's hard to win graciously.

It is also hard in a family — whether it be a church
family or a physical one — to win and lose. It's just
so hard to hide that gleam of triumph when you were
right after all, the satisfied smirk when your dire
prediction of "disaster" came true.

As if you're glad to see God's people hurt. That is
sad!

One writer used to repeat a line that makes a lot of
sense: "If you're wrong, admit it," he would declare,
"and if your right, shut up!"

Paul said it this way: "Let your gentleness be evident
to all" (Philippians 4:5 NIV). Elsewhere, he said, "Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"
(Romans 12:21 ESV).

Being "right" does not justify acting unkindly towards
others. You can differ with another without attempting
to destroy him. The question I always ask myself when
speaking to another is this: Have I equipped him,
enabled him, to serve God and God's people better?

To quote the apostle again, "Let all things be done
for building up" (1 Corinthians 14:26). Why should
this be? Simply put, because we always view others as
being more important than ourselves (Philippians
2:1-4).

Don't we?
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