We are living in an age in which people are often weary of their life, family, children, wife or husband, and everything around them. This is the age in which we should learn, as never before, how to speak to the weary to bring them to Christ. Sometimes, even the sweetest words, and words we think would best befit the occasion may boomerang and worsen the situation. People everywhere tend to be tension-ridden, and indifferent and provocative, rather than receptive to any word.
How upset Peter must have been after denying the Lord thrice! Any word of rebuke or correction could have hardened or embittered him. But one look from Jesus did greater things than the greatest sermon ever preached by the most gifted preacher on the earth. “And the Lord turned, and LOOKED UPON PETER. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord … and Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Lk 22;61,62).
One LOOK from the Lord, a look of compassion and love, a look of sympathy with the sweetness of sincerity – that did the work; it brought to remembrance the word of the Lord, it made him to go out of the bad company, and the best of all, it made him weep bitterly for his bitter sin against the sweet Saviour. We should discipline ourselves, not only to know how to speak, but also to be silent as the situation calls for and as the Lord guides. There are times when silence proves golden while sermon proves irksome and out of season.
“A caring heart, a listening ear,
A compassionate look, a gentle tear
Will help to lift the heavy load
Of weary souls along life’s road.”
How upset Peter must have been after denying the Lord thrice! Any word of rebuke or correction could have hardened or embittered him. But one look from Jesus did greater things than the greatest sermon ever preached by the most gifted preacher on the earth. “And the Lord turned, and LOOKED UPON PETER. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord … and Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Lk 22;61,62).
One LOOK from the Lord, a look of compassion and love, a look of sympathy with the sweetness of sincerity – that did the work; it brought to remembrance the word of the Lord, it made him to go out of the bad company, and the best of all, it made him weep bitterly for his bitter sin against the sweet Saviour. We should discipline ourselves, not only to know how to speak, but also to be silent as the situation calls for and as the Lord guides. There are times when silence proves golden while sermon proves irksome and out of season.
“A caring heart, a listening ear,
A compassionate look, a gentle tear
Will help to lift the heavy load
Of weary souls along life’s road.”
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion
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