WHY SO NEGATIVE?

I could say that I am a very positive person for the most part. Many who know me well would agree with that statement. But, this post is not about that side of me. It is about the remaining part which tends to dwell in the negative and is absent to the naked eye.

Have you ever enjoyed swimming in negative thoughts about others? I am talking about googling, blogging, emailing, chatting, texting, dreaming, thinking, searching, digging, analyzing and probing into the negatives of others. These are thoughts that makes you feel better, stronger, prouder, higher, superior, greater and more spiritual than others.

I dont know about you, but I do.

There are times when I catch myself flirting with all the wrongs in others. If I am honest about it I do this to feel good about myself. Not only do I feel good about myself, but these negative things I see in others tend to consume my mind spilling out in my negative responses towards them.

In these better, stronger, prouder, higher, superior, greater and more spiritual moments- I am reminded, time and time again, that the Word(JESUS) who became flesh and made his dwelling among us was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). If Jesus was full of grace and truth, and I am a follower of Jesus, where is grace and truth in me? Why am I the first one to condemn others and why do I enjoy broadcasting the negative that I see in others when I can use that opportunity to teach about GOD’s grace – that while we were still sinners Jesus died for us. Why can’t I be an agent of grace? Didn’t Jesus display that for you and I? When did the GOSPEL change from GOOD NEWS to really bad news?

While I was a negative person, indifferent to GOD, self centred and enjoying sin- GOD showed His grace to me in and through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Having said this, I have to also say that being “full of grace” does not mean you do not speak up and stand up against sin and injustice. Jesus was not silent, he acted. Yet in his thought, speech and action, he was full of grace. I can say confidently that only those who understand the grace they have received in Jesus rightly will extend grace freely.

So, let us incline ourselves and be attentive to GOD’s grace, not human depravity. May we not be negative or go looking for negatives in people. Instead, let us become aware of GOD’s grace in our own life and seek opportunities to extend that grace to others.

Listen to Apostle Paul’s words, “GOD is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:8

Written by Samuel Williams, Content Lead at Fluid Forward. He is also
the Teaching Pastor at Avenue Community Church in Toronto, Canada.