Calling Assault the Issue - not the Person

Calling

Assault the Issue - not the Person
 

This soldier is not focused on the enemy,

but with his enemy

focusing on the problem.

  

Ephesians 4:1 encourages us to

“live a life worthy of our calling”

Ephesians 4:25 starts with the word “therefore.”

We have seen in verse 25,

we are to speak truthfully and

in verse 26 control our anger.

Verse 28 seems to be out of context.

The point isn’t as much about stealing as it is about how to

handle issues we face in the church and in our lives with other.

Notice the thief is not attacked or verbally assaulted.

The point is focused on righteousness;

not a penalty, revenge or getting even.

In other words, what are the desired results?

The desired results are the same as they are for anyone of us.

Work so you can not only meet your

own needs but the needs of others.

Many times the first response we have

when a person has done something wrong

is to react to the person rather than pro-act.

I have had times when people have stolen things from me.

I won’t lie I was angry and in my mind I wanted revenge.

I understand that in some countries

they cut off the arm or hand of a convicted thief;

and that would have been a mild punishment according

to the thoughts going through my head at that time.

All of us have done wrong,

whether it was deliberate or unintentional.

Jesus came into a world of wrong, with a purpose.

He said, “I came into the world

not to condemn the world, but to save it.”

He came to assault the issue - not the person.

That is why we see a tax collect who was considered a thief

confess he would pay back all his wrongs.

Jesus did say there would be a day for judging a person;

and according to their deeds be punished or rewarded.

Jesus was patient not wanting any to perish.

So He modeled to us the principle

of assaulting the issue - not the person.

He modeled redemption;

a focus on helping people

do what is right as the first goal.

To walk worthy of our calling

we must remember the next time

someone makes us angry…

To assault the issue - not the person!

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 4:25-32 NIV

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor,

for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin":

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer,

but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,

that he may have something to share with those in need.

29 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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,

just as in Christ God forgave you.

John 3:17-18 NIV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world

to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him.

Luke 19:1-10 NIV

19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus;

he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was,

but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him,

since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,

"Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter,

"He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,

"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor,

and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,

I will pay back four times the amount."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house,

because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."