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| FRIDAY | January 21 |
| Read Ephesians 4:25–32 and underline the words that touch your heart more directly. Reflect on all the things you can do, with God’s help, to improve your relationship with other people. These are portions of a letter that Ellen White wrote in 1908 to an evangelist: “I have this message for you from the Lord: Be kind in speech, gentle in action. Guard yourself carefully, for you are inclined to be severe and dictatorial, and to say rash things. . . . Harsh expressions grieve the Lord; unwise words do harm. I am charged to say to you, Be gentle in your speech; watch well your words; let no harshness come into your utterances or into your gestures. . . . “When the daily experience is one of looking unto Jesus and learning of Him, you will reveal a wholesome, harmonious character. Soften your representations, and let not condemnatory words be spoken. Learn of the great Teacher. Words of kindness and sympathy will do good as a medicine, and will heal souls that are in despair. The knowledge of the Word of God brought into the practical life will have a healing, soothing power. Harshness of speech will never bring blessing to yourself or to any other soul.”—Gospel Workers, pp. 163, 164. |
How much do you like to gossip? And even if you don’t do it yourself, how eager and open are you to hear gossip from others? Why, in a sense, is that just as bad as spreading gossiping yourself? How can you stop being part of what can cause other people a great deal of pain? 
Forgiveness can be so difficult, especially when we have been very badly hurt. How do you learn to forgive those who don’t ask for forgiveness, who don’t care about your forgiveness, and who might even scorn it? What is your responsibility in such cases? 
Verbal and physical abuse within families is a reality that brings much pain to individuals and groups. What should be the Christian attitude to help prevent this problem? What should be recommended when forgiveness does not cause any change in abusive behavior? 
Think over your life right now. What steps can you take to bring about an improvement in your relationships? Why is humility, trust in God, and a desire to do right so important in such a process? | I N S I D E Story | ||
| Standing for the Right by PHYLLIS VALLIERES Dorothy had been looking for work for two years, and at times she struggled to understand why God hadn't helped her find a job. Then a Bible text came to mind: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent" (Rev. 3:19, NIV). Dorothy bowed her head and asked God to forgive her unbelief. She arrived at a job interview and was asked to complete a test in electronic soldering. She had never soldered anything before, and the supervisor was amazed at her work. "Are you sure you've never done this type of work before?" he asked. Dorothy got the job. Dorothy often sang as she worked beside Cindy, her supervisor. "Why are you so happy?" Cindy asked. When Dorothy said that Jesus is her personal friend, Cindy said, "I want what you have." Dorothy gave Cindy a Bible. Cindy read it and asked questions about what she read. Before long Cindy gave her life to Christ. Dorothy had been working for the company for several months when a supervisor announced that workers would have two weeks off with pay at Christmas, but that they must work four Saturdays to earn the vacation. Dorothy offered to work on Sundays instead, but the supervisor doubted whether it could be arranged. Dorothy said, "If God wants me to work here, He will work this out, but I will not work on His Sabbath." Some coworkers sneered at her for asking for special privileges. Dorothy prayed, "God please don't leave me. I need your strength to stand firm." Her request was granted, and Dorothy went to work on Sundays. There she met Jean and felt God telling her to talk to her. The two ate together, and Dorothy said, "God arranged for us to meet today." Jean agreed, for she wanted to know more about God. Dorothy arranged for her to study the Bible with some friends of hers, and soon Jean and her brother and her boyfriend were studying the Bible together. Several months later Jean and her boyfriend asked the pastor to many them, and all three were baptized. "It pays to stand for the right, even when I can't see where God is leading," Dorothy says. We can share our faith with others as we give our mission offerings as well, for those funds help fund outreach programs around the world. PHYLLIS VALLIERES is a nursing instructor at Loyalist College in Ontario, Canada. Dorothy Burton continues to share her faith in Ontario, as well. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
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