Day 6

BE GRACIOUS

"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:39

Two of our friends got married recently. They put all the money they had into buying a house, so they found it quite hard to make ends meet for a while. When the husband saw the opportunity for a promotion he was thrilled and believing his particular qualifications suited him for the post he applied with confidence. Several of his colleagues also applied and he told us a bit about them. The evening after the interviews the couple came to see us. "Well, I didn't get it" he said. "I would like to feel I was the man for the job but on reflection I have to admit Stan really is that man. He got it and I think he deserves it" Next day he was helping Stan to move into his new department. We were very impressed by his gracious attitude when he could so easily have been depressed, negative and uncooperative.

Samuel must have felt so rejected by the people for whom he had laboured so long (1 Sam. 7:15-17). Yet he willingly carried out God's work of selecting and anointing the man who would replace him as Israel's leader (1 Sam. 9:19 - 10:1), announcing him in gracious and affectionate terms (1 Sam. 10:24).

After the initial shock and hurt Samuel was selfless in his guidance of Saul, obviously genuinely concerned for him. John the Baptist willingly took second place when his cousin Jesus began his ministry. Follow the story in John 1:35-37,3:22-30. What makes men like these different from those leaders who cling to position and power at all costs?

Look up 1 Cor. 13 and consider it's relationship with our discover text. What qualities are needed to react graciously in the face of rejection and disappointment?

Father, it's difficult to be gracious when I'm stinging from rejection or disappointment. Help me to know you understand and give me grace to act as you would act.