Bread for the Journey - Bev

I love this picture that my husband took recently of a seemingly angry bird!

He looks mad, he's obviously being very vocal and there's no doubt his feathers are ruffled!

In our church ladies' Bible Study we've been studying the Sermon on the Mount 

and there are a few verses there that speak to how we should respond when
 our feathers get ruffled!

Matthew 5:21, 22, 

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

I don't think I've taken this instruction seriously enough.
 Jesus is not contradicting the law that Moses gave but is calling his followers
 to a higher standard than the letter of the law sets out.

Everyone, Christian or non Christian, agrees that murder is a sin and is deserving of punishment.
But we feel justified in calling someone a fool (or worse) when we feel their actions deserve it.
However we as followers of Christ, are called to treat everyone with grace and mercy as He did.
That includes the person who cut you off on the highway,
  the fellow church member who offended you,
your spouse when they've done something you thought was was ill-advised,
 or your child for a thoughtless or rebellious act.
According to this passage, when we react in anger or derision,
we too are deserving of judgment.

This passage challenged me and with God's grace I will be thinking twice
 before reacting in anger or calling someone a fool.
My prayer is that all of us as Christians will be known for the grace and mercy we show to others
especially when our feathers are ruffled!