THE LOST SHEEP

In Christ’s parable, it was a SHEEP that was lost, not a lamb. Could it be that, in the church, the sheep (the grown-ups, old-timers, and leaders) are more in danger of being lost than the lambs (the young and newly converted believers)? Perhaps so. Christ tasked repentant Peter: “Feed My lambs….Tend My sheep….Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17). The lambs need to be fed. But the sheep must be both fed and tended/shepherded. They have more issues! It wasn’t the lamb (the ignorant and naïve) that was lost, but the sheep (the know-it-all and self-willed). Not the penitent prodigal son, but the self-righteous, unforgiving, and critical older brother. Pray for the lost SHEEP—whose attitudes and actions can also drive away the lambs (Luke 15)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

NEUTRALITY & INJUSTICE

The world is a school of injustice where we promote excellence in neutrality. The result? We’re silent when there’s travesty of justice in our courts; indifferent when our leaders arbitrarily imprison, torture, and kill our enemies; comfortable when our churches deny or sanctify their acts of discrimination and racism; and we don’t blush in shame when our pious lies, hasty judgments, and fanatical zeal ruin lives! But as Desmond Tutu reminds us, “If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Indifference or neutrality in the face of injustice is a crime against humanity—and God (Isaiah 59:9-15). Let’s repent!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

MY APOLOGIES

UNKIND CRITICISM

“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” (Aristotle). Let our responses display maturity & educate others. Thus, English evangelist, George Whitefield (1714-1770) once responded to a very critical letter accusing him of some wrong: “I thank you heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield.” Unkind criticism is the hobby of fools, the boast of the arrogant, the exploit of the jealous, and the spiritual gift of hypocrites. Learn from criticism if it’s justified; ignore it if untrue, unfair, or ignorant; and, if needed, respond to it with Christian grace (Proverbs 15:1, 2).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

(c) 2013 Permission is granted to share this thought nugget and all others on this site  provided they are  reproduced in full and are for non-commercial use only. Pertinent quotes...

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UNSPOKEN

In today's church culture, acknowledging one’s sin is treated as a criminal act. Hence we employ pseudonyms and euphemisms for our sins. We have personal “struggles, challenges, weaknesses, and issues.” We regret the “things” we’ve done, express our need for “spiritual growth,” and ask others to pray for our “unspoken requests.” We even confess we’re not "perfect" or "where we should be" in our spiritual walk. But woe to believers who admit the sin of immorality, unwed pregnancy, stealing, lying, witchcraft, substance abuse, depression**, doubt, gossip, hatred, greed, jealousy, selfishness, and pride! Lord, help me call my sin by its right name and save me from the summary justice of your righteous saints (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; John 8:1-11)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

**NOTE on "Depression": In the nugget above, I’ve included "depression" in the list of unspoken sins because there’s seldom an opportunity to talk candidly about it in the church. However, to avoid being misunderstood...

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TIME TO WAKE UP

Feeling sorry for ourselves is a waste of valuable time and a nauseating nuisance. We might have had no control over what people did to us or the adversities we’ve suffered in life, but we do have total control over our responses to them. We’re miserable because we’re discontent with what we have or who we are. We’re resentful because we’ve chosen to be held hostage by negative emotions and bad attitudes. We crave attention because we really think the world owes us something. We feel helpless because we don’t believe in God’s promises and power. This plain truth can set us free (cf. John 8:32). It’s time to wake up from the stupor of self-pity and start taking ownership of our actions and destiny.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim 

GO HIGHER

Don’t be satisfied with aiming high. Go HIGHER.  For, in the words of E.G. White, “higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children.”  There’s never a period when there is no more to learn and no higher attainments to reach.  Going HIGHER means—don’t just grow, bloom; don’t just hear, listen; don’t just think, ponder; don’t just speak, communicate; don’t just give, sacrifice; don’t just be patient, be kind; don’t just forgive, forget; don’t just live, live for Christ. Grow—“from faith to faith,” “from glory to glory” and “day by day” (Romans 1:16, 17; 2 Corinthians3:18; 4:16;). Press on the upward way, gain new heights everyday, and plant your feet on HIGHER ground. —Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

One of the saddest confessions to escape human lips is “I wish I had…!” Those words express missed opportunities and regrets. Easy to be ignored, and requiring little effort to waste, opportunities are lost because of fear, pride, delay, misplaced priorities, and busyness. Missed opportunities can be costly, hence a Bulgarian proverb urges: “Seize opportunity by the beard, for it is bald behind.” Now is the time: Make that phone call or send that mail; express the apology, appreciation or love; take that decision about your studies, work, health, and relationship—with God and man. If the Spirit is prompting you on an issue or duty today, don’t miss the opportunity. Today is NOW! (cf. Hebrews 3:7-15; 4:7.)—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

MOVE ON

Life was never meant to be traveled backwards, that’s why you must move on. Learn from past mistakes and carefully apply its lessons. But let no one define you by your past. Critics and those with unresolved issues may try to whitewash their own dark history by dwelling on yours. Don’t give them the brush. Remember, every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Thus, when folks dig up your past, reconstruct it, and try to re-settle you there, tell them you’ve moved on and have no desire of ever living there anymore. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your new dwelling place is “in Christ.” So, move on.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim 

MATURITY

Unless incapacitated, an adult who still wears diapers, feeds on baby-milk, and doesn’t think or take responsibility is simply immature—and is not ready for marriage, nor useful for any productive purpose. As in the physical realm, so in the spiritual. Leonard Wedel says: “A mature person does not take himself too seriously...keeps himself alert in mind...does not always view with alarm every adverse situation that arises...Is too big to be little...never feels too great to do little things, and is never too proud to do humble things...never accepts either success or failure in themselves as permanent...is one who is able to control his or her impulses...is not afraid to make mistakes...has faith in themselves which becomes stronger as it is fortified by their faith in God.” Age, education, and position are not necessarily evidence of maturity. Let’s grow up! Paul counsels: “Do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1...

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