VERSE FOR TODAY: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Roman 12:18).
HYMN FOR TODAY: "Onward Christian soldiers"
A few years ago some people where planning a new hymnbook. They thought of leaving out "Onward Christian Soldiers" because it was too warlike. Christian should be peaceful, they said. But many earnest Christians protested, and the song was included in the book.
We can see two sides to this question. Christian's ought to "fight the good fight" and "earnestly contend for the faith" (1Timothy 6:12; Jude 3). On the other hand, some people start fights about ideas that are "contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned." Christian's have learned the teaching of Jesus and His apostle. We do not want to fight against that, but we may have to fight for it
The teaching of Jesus and th eapostle is recorded in the Nrw Testament. We needto read ir carefully and often. We need to know it so well that we can recognize any teaching that is contrary to it. If we have to fight against such false teaching, wemustbecareful to fight fairly. We don't shout insults at the people who are teaching falsely. We just tell the truth, and point out where it written in the Bible. That's why we need to know the Bible very well.
PRAYER THOUGHTS: Thank God for the teaching we know is right, the teaching of Jesus and the apostle. Promise to keep studying and learning more about it. Ask the Lord for wisdom to live peaceably when we can, and argue honestlywhen we must.
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