My Son Changed My Keyboard!
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I had to cede my computer to my son recently so he could do some of online class work, and he changed my keyboard! What he chose was the sleek, gentler looking keyboard, with soft and subdued keys (even the DELL logo on that one is subdued, debossed and same color)! He chose that one over my rugged, rough looking keyboard with protruding keys; with the Dell logo embossed in contrasting colors; and relic from the times I was hooked to the FIFA 2015 computer game!
I didn’t fight him over it! I have a history behind my preference for that keyboard – It responds quicker when I am playing a game, than the others. My son might also have his own history for preferring the other keyboard too.
Our views and preferences are shaped by our history and experiences. Since our history and experiences are never the same, our choices will never be the same. It is the reason we did not all attend the same schools, choose the same careers, made the same friends, or married the same people! If you read the story about “The Tower of Babel” (Genesis 11:1-9), you would realize that God uses diversity to achieve His purposes. His purpose is not for us to fight, but rather for us to chart different courses and bring divergent views to the table; all in a bid to make sure we subdue the earth (Genesis 11:9)
We are in a one-of-a-kind political season; a political season that was preceded and greatly marred by a ravaging global pandemic, which has so far killed 1.23 million people globally! We were united against Covid-19, and we have to be united against electoral violence! We have greater control over electoral violence than we had over Covid-19. It is not a fight.
For we those who belong to the household of believers, Apostle Paul has some good advice.
READ Ephesians 4:31-5:2
“Let there be no more resentment, no more anger or temper, no more violent self-assertiveness, no more slander and no more malicious remarks, be kind to each other, be understanding. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.
As children copy their fathers you, as God’s children, are to copy him. Live your lives in love—the same sort of love which Christ gives us and which He perfectly expressed when he gave himself up for us in sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 4:31-5:2, J.B. Phillips New Testament)
Paul is believed to have spent the longest time with the church in Ephesus than any other church. Ephesus, during that time, housed the famous temple to the Greek goddess Artemis, but Paul led many to faith in Jesus Christ; while many others also opposed his preaching in the synagogues and homes. Demetrius — a prominent silversmith who made implements for the worship of Artemis — for example, found his business suffering greatly because people were converting to Christianity. The ensuing near-riot led Paul to leave the city, but he had already established the Christian community there. The city of Ephesus could therefore be regarded as a very polarized city.
There, in this very important letter to the Church in Ephesus, which is part of what some call “the prison epistles” (others are Philippians, Colossians and Philemon), Paul laid out profound theological truths in the first half of the book; saying things like, “even when we were dead in trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ” (2:4), and “by grace we have been saved through faith” (2:8). He wanted them to be very aware that their salvation was not cheap!
Paul started the second part of this letter making his purpose very clear when he said,
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
Paul expected that this community of faith would walk in accordance with its heavenly calling. Paul had a simple mission here: to protect against future problems in the church, by encouraging the Ephesians to mature in their faith.
In the text today, he asked the people to do away with
- resentment
- anger or temper
- violent self-assertiveness
- slander
- malicious remarks
He further told them to be kind to each other, be understanding, and be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ’s sake forgave them you. That as children copy their fathers they, as God’s children, should copy Him.
It concluded by saying they should live their lives in love—the same sort of love which Christ gave and which He perfectly expressed when he gave himself up for the us in sacrifice to God.
This advice is for us too. We need to walk worthy of our heavenly calling: we need to eschew resentment, anger, violence, slander and malice. We are called to be kind and understanding with one another, ready to forgive and full of love.
This is what we have been called to.
My son preferred another keyboard but I didn’t fight him. Your difference in preferences should not lead to a fight.
Let us end 2020 preserving lives. Covid has done enough for the year.
Shalom!
MEMORY VERSE
“I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
QUESTIONS
1. Do you disagree with someone?
2. Do you know that God made us to be different, and think differently for a purpose?
PRAYER TIP
Father of peace, please help us to understand your purpose for diversity.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
CREDITS
- Overview of Ephesians (Pastor Chuck Swindoll), https://insight.org/
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance if you want to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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