We mentioned the story of someone walking by a poker table, and spotting a straight no one else did -- a straight which could have kept someone in a poker tournament.
Our live tournaments usually are at locations where the players take turns dealing, and there's no impartial "referee" over hands. When there's a question, the players around the table haggle it out based on their knowledge of the rules. A designated tournament director is called in, should all else fail.
Sometimes those other players can see things you can't. That worked in our favor a couple of weeks ago, when we hit a straight flush. In everyday life, good friends can do the same thing -- and sometimes even outright enemies.
Several examples of this can be found in the Biblical story of the early Church. A conference was called in Acts 15, to settle a dispute about whether Old Testament regulations still applied. Another more personal dispute also developed, between two big-name apostles.
"When Peter came to Antioch," Paul writes in Galatians 2:11, "I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong." Paul didn't even take Peter aside for a private consultation. "I said to Peter in front of them all.... 'How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?'" (verse 14)
We hope Peter got the message from that correction. And we hope you're not afraid to speak up when you see something wrong. It could be as simple as spotting a hidden winning poker hand -- or as complex as telling fellow church members they're sinning or in error.
Yes, sometimes the most important "testimony" you can give is to someone personally close to you. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault," Jesus said in Matthew 18:15. Do it in humility, not self-righteous pride -- and if someone truly is converted, he or she should thank you for turning their life back on track.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment