Spiritual Manners
Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Spiritual Manners
Father God, walk with us, talk with us, and tell us you are ours. Give us joy unspeakable as we fellowship with you. Help us to understand what you want us to do in every situation. Let us practice spiritual manners.
Christians should speak as mannered, cultured people. Too many times, we Christians enjoy transmitting bad news to others. We become like the newscasters who speak apathetically about negative news. We should be a people of the gospel, speaking good news. Philippians 4:8 says that we must think on things that are pure, true, lovely, and of a good report. Our words should be seasoned with salt, so that they bring edification, not discouragement. I pray that God will deliver us from the oppression of gravitating towards, and enjoying transmitting, negative news. I pray that He will change us into a people who love good news.
The Bible in 2 Samuel 18:19-33 gives us an example of people who loved good news. “Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But however, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, if he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
In this passage, Ahimaaz is described as a good man who comes with good tidings. Though Ahimaaz knew that Absalom was dead, he said, “All is well,” and fell down to the earth upon his face before the king. He blessed the Lord for delivering up the enemies of David. Ahimaaz did not blurt out that Absalom was dead. When the Cushite arrived he also did not tell David about his son’s death. When David asked if Absalom were safe, the Cushite answered in a sensitive manner. Then the king understood that Absalom was dead.
I pray that we would behave like these men, that we would report tragedies with remorse and be good people with good tidings. I pray that we would speak with spiritual understanding and culture, that we would say, “All is well,” because this is how to speak as citizens in God’s kingdom. In Christ Jesus we are victorious and all is truly well.
Prayer Points:
O Father God, deliver us from the evils of our generation. Give us the grace to communicate in a proper way. Teach us spiritual, biblical utterances so that we will speak like people who are mannered in the kingdom, and not like people of the world. Let us have spiritual manners.
