Tuesday, October 16, 2012

On Speaking Terms


2 Chronicles 33:10
The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

Like most families, I grew up in a home where ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I forgive you’ are rather felt, than heard. Depending on the gravity of the offense, the cold treatment can go on for as long as everybody felt comfortable again. And that is very uncomfortable. Every mealtime was an effort to make sure I won’t meet my parents’ eyes.  Even the hallway seemed narrower when we had to pass each other. Time was the necessary healing balm. We all had to passively wait for it.  But looking back, I wish it was different for us. There sure was a better way of doing it.

This chapter tells us of King Manasseh, the son of the reformer. He reigned longest in the history of biblical kings. Sadly, one of the evil-est too. In 2 Kings, his sins were comparable to that of Ahab’s and even worse than the pagan enemies God destroyed before them. He provoked God to anger, dishonored His face, desecrated His temple, corrupted His people, disregarded His good gifts – disobeying His will altogether. If his father Hezekiah was alive, I don’t think he’d be allowed at dinnertime at all!  Nine verses of sin-full-ness, and at verse ten, God’s grace surprised me with these words: ‘He spoke to Manasseh and his people’. God initiated a talk! And even after Manasseh brushed off the warning and met God’s justice in Babylon, and there repented - - God’s line was available to him. He need not wait for the cold air to pass.

God here modeled to us how to deal with every insult, every hurt: Be on speaking terms!  Sadly, we often keep that flame burning inside, thinking it’s nobler to shut up and be civil about everything. But aren’t we all bound to explode with that set up? What’s the worst that can happen when we confront and settle issues? Isn’t peace a lot better than pride?  Ephesians 4:26 says ‘Don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry’. Keeping it for days is giving the devil a foothold to destroy the relationship. Be willing to talk to those who have hurt you. They may not readily respond, or violently react, but making that line open is one step away from the burden you need not carry. 
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On Speaking Terms


2 Chronicles 33:10
The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

Like most families, I grew up in a home where ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘I forgive you’ are rather felt, than heard. Depending on the gravity of the offense, the cold treatment can go on for as long as everybody felt comfortable again. And that is very uncomfortable. Every mealtime was an effort to make sure I won’t meet my parents’ eyes.  Even the hallway seemed narrower when we had to pass each other. Time was the necessary healing balm. We all had to passively wait for it.  But looking back, I wish it was different for us. There sure was a better way of doing it.

This chapter tells us of King Manasseh, the son of the reformer. He reigned longest in the history of biblical kings. Sadly, one of the evil-est too. In 2 Kings, his sins were comparable to that of Ahab’s and even worse than the pagan enemies God destroyed before them. He provoked God to anger, dishonored His face, desecrated His temple, corrupted His people, disregarded His good gifts – disobeying His will altogether. If his father Hezekiah was alive, I don’t think he’d be allowed at dinnertime at all!  Nine verses of sin-full-ness, and at verse ten, God’s grace surprised me with these words: ‘He spoke to Manasseh and his people’. God initiated a talk! And even after Manasseh brushed off the warning and met God’s justice in Babylon, and there repented - - God’s line was available to him. He need not wait for the cold air to pass.

God here modeled to us how to deal with every insult, every hurt: Be on speaking terms!  Sadly, we often keep that flame burning inside, thinking it’s nobler to shut up and be civil about everything. But aren’t we all bound to explode with that set up? What’s the worst that can happen when we confront and settle issues? Isn’t peace a lot better than pride?  Ephesians 4:26 says ‘Don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry’. Keeping it for days is giving the devil a foothold to destroy the relationship. Be willing to talk to those who have hurt you. They may not readily respond, or violently react, but making that line open is one step away from the burden you need not carry.