While giving a sermon, mission-ary Hudson Taylor filled a glass with water and placed it on a table in front of him. As he was speaking he pounded his fist hard enough to make the water splash onto the table. He then explained, “You will come up against much trouble. But when you do, remember, only what’s in you will spill out.”

That’s worth thinking about, isn’t it? When we are mistreated or misunderstood, how do we respond? With loving words, patience and kindness? Or are we inclined to respond in anger?

In Ephesians 4:25-32 we see the contrast between what a person is before they are saved and what they are afterwards. When we live under the control of the Holy Spirit we will show it by the way we react to the jolting trials and temptations of life. How we respond to trying, embarrassing situations that are suddenly thrust upon us is a good test of how much we have grown in grace.

It is possible to suppress frustration and anger and to appear undisturbed to people around us. But if our heart is full of the Saviour’s love, we will respond to the jostling of an unexpected trial with genuine patience and kindness. Like a full glass of water, what’s inside of us will spill over on the outside.

Author

Richard DeHaan

Topics

Our Daily Bread