In this age of Cancel Culture and Wokeness, cordial and grace has gone AWOL, absent without leave. Instead, there is a tenseness driven by hatred and revenge. Political correctness has divided communities, neighborhoods, and occupations like truckers. Rather than exercise common sense, a spirit of pettiness is motivating human beings to ruin anyone who doesn’t agree with their progressive and secular worldview.
Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him), 1 Peter 4:9.
When I was growing up, my parents forced me to join the Boy Scouts. This is what parents were supposed to do back in the day to help their boys become prepared and well-rounded. While my heart was never into Scouts, I did learn valuable life skills as I completed merit badges and increased my rank to Star before focusing on high school sports. Despite not earning the highest honor, I can say that I am more cordial and gracious due to my time in this organization.
Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [[l]against God] and [m]questioning and doubting [among yourselves], 15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, Philippians 2:14-15.
The Bible provides its own version of Scouting. Rather than memorizing the Boy Scouts motto to complete the requirements for a merit badge, the Bible is an instructional manual for life. In the passage above, the apostle Paul provides directions on how to become a spiritual star in your community. Using principles from books like Bring Out the Best in People and How to Win Friends and Influence People, Paul calls Christians to emulate Christ, Ephesians 5:1-9. Anyone who strives to live as children of the light will become more cordial and gracious as they mature and draw closer to Jesus.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 