B. Breaking News of the World
C. Short Story: Identity in Life
Every human being who has ever lived has asked this question: "Where is my meaning and purpose in life to be found?"
The way you answer that question will determine how you speak to and treat the people in your life. For parents,
The Bible says that there are only two places for you and me to look for meaning and purpose (or identity). One place to look is vertically from God — from his love and acceptance, his forgiving grace, his constant presence, his power and his promises, and the glory of all of these that he's showered down on us.
But if you're not resting in your vertical identity, you will look horizontally, searching to find your reason for living in something in the created world. That could be your possessions, your accomplishments, your career, or the people in your life.
The problem with this horizontal identity quest is that created things were never designed to give you meaning and purpose. They were never designed to satisfy your heart and give you peace. On the contrary, every good thing in creation is designed to point you to the One who created them and who alone can satisfy.
D. Idioms
- A hot potato
- A penny for your thoughts
- Back to the drawing board
- Be glad to see the back of
- Best of both worlds
- Burn the midnight oil
- Cross that bridge when you come to it
- Devil's Advocate
E. Bible Lesson: Good Medicine - Proverbs 17:22
Questions:
Think about a time when you were angry with someone or when you had an argument.
How did you feel inside?
What parts of your life did it affect?
Careless driving, rising tempers, and use of foul language among
some taxi and minibus drivers are a constant source of traffic fights in our
city of Accra, Ghana. But one traffic incident I witnessed took a different
turn. A bus was almost hit by a careless taxi driver. I expected the bus driver
to get angry and yell at the other driver, but he didn’t. Instead, the bus
driver relaxed his stern face and smiled broadly at the guilty-looking taxi
driver. And the smile worked wonders. With a raised hand, the taxi driver
apologized, smiled back, and moved away—the tension diffused.
A smile has a fascinating effect on our brain chemistry.
Researchers have found that “when we smile it releases brain chemicals called
endorphins which have an actual physiological relaxing effect.” Not only can a
smile diffuse a tense situation, but it can also diffuse tension within us. Our
emotions affect us as well as others. The Bible teaches us to “get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Eph. 4:31-32).
When anger or tension or bitterness threatens our relationship
with the Lord and with others, it helps to remember that “a cheerful heart is
good medicine” for our own joy and well-being. —Lawrence Darmani
Read: Ephesians 4:25-32
Insight:
Paul tells his readers to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:31). The Greek word translated “get rid of” is artheto, and it means to lift something for the purpose of carrying it off or putting it away. Getting rid of sinful and destructive behavior requires that we allow the Holy Spirit to remove those things that mark our former life (4:17-24) so that the compassion and forgiveness of Christ (v. 32) will flourish.
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