Anger and bitterness or thanksgiving and joy?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The power of words”

Our Bible verse for today: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:1;7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Anger and bitterness or thanksgiving and joy?

I saw a sign in town the other day which read: “Thanksgiving: Fueling family dysfunction since 1863.” That’s funny but sad. And, sadly, it is also true. Many families can’t even get together for a few hours of holiday celebration without it bringing out the worst in some of them.

It’s an unfortunate reality that family life can be messy, and it’s not uncommon for there to be feuds in a family that go unresolved for long periods of time, sometimes for years. But you would think that adults would be mature enough and emotionally healthy enough to put aside hard feelings and to be civil with each other for just a couple of short hours at family holiday gatherings. If not for their own sake, then out of consideration for the rest of the family.

Sometimes family members refuse to even attend a family holiday celebration if another family member is going to be there. That is so, so sad, and almost always unnecessary. It should be especially unnecessary if those who are quarreling are professing Christians. Two Christians, both with the Holy Spirit living in their hearts, can’t be together in the same room for a couple of hours and be cordial to each other? That just should not be.

In Galatians 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit in the heart of the believer produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Shouldn’t that be what we expect to see from nature Christians – especially in difficult situations?

As Solomon taught in Ecclesiastes 3:1;7 there is a time to speak and a time to hold your tongue. In other words, there is a time to engage in those difficult conversations and try to work out the differences, and there is also a time to simply hold your tongue. Family holiday gatherings are one of those times to hold your tongue.

It is my prayer that your family holiday gatherings this year will be filled with all the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Holy Spirit expects from us.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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