Published 8/25/19
By Greg Johnson
What If...
You just walked in the door from work. You had a tough day, plus it took you almost an hour to get home because of an accident that clogged traffic. You’re bushed. All you want to do is eat dinner and take it easy the rest of the night.
You change your clothes and sit down for dinner. During the prayer, the phone rings. You finish praying, then quickly get up to answer it.
It’s a phone solicitor saying he’s going to be in the neighborhood the next day and asking if you’d like a special deal on cleaning two rooms and a hallway—plus an estimate on the rest of the house. What would you say?
After getting off the phone, you go back to the table and start digging in. Two minutes later, the phone rings again. This time it’s an insurance salesperson. She asks if you’d like a free comparison of her company’s rates with your own. Now what would you say?
Back at the table, you continue to eat your slightly lukewarm meal. The phone rings. By now you’ve had it! You say, “Let it ring.” After the twelfth ring, you get up and walk quickly to the noisy beast. “Hello!” you say.
This time it’s a real estate salesman asking if you’re looking to sell your house... or know anyone who is. By this time you’re really frustrated!
Questions to Think On
• What would you say?
• Would you be tempted to lie? (Be honest)
• How well do you think you handle frustrating situations when you’re tired?
• Is fatigue a good reason to quit acting like a Christian?
What Does God Have to Say?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
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