Just Be Nice!

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the man who trusts me, God, the woman who sticks with God. They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers—Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. Since Jesus died to bring us back to the Father, let this promise of never having to worry, and bearing fresh fruit, even in a drought, be your promise for the day! I wanted to share something that happened to me with you, it is the inspiration for the title “Just Be Nice!” I was driving down a narrow street, King Springs, which runs off of S.Cobb Drive and connects with Spring Road, cutting off a big “elbow” going from S. Cobb across to Atanta Road which is where I was going to make a deposit at a bank located on that corner. There are several stop signs on this road, and it IS the law to stop at them, right? A car came up behind me so fast I thought I was going to be hit! At every stop this car would come right up on me and would take off when I did never stopping at one sign. I guessed they counted stopping with me was enough! I got to Spring Road, the light was red so I stopped and looked to my left checking the on-coming traffic to see if   could make a right turn on red. When I stopped to check, the car that had been following me suddenly whipped out around me and into the on-coming traffic! I seriously thought about calling 911, this person must be escaping from prison! As the car went around me, I saw the person driving and the license plate (a prestige plate) and was so stunned…I knew her, she attends our church! She had been so rude I couldn’t believe that she would do a thing like that just as a good law abiding citizen, much less someone who claims to be the Christian of the crowd! My point: You never know who is watching you, so you had better be careful how you act. After all, you are representing the King! Remember when you speak to someone; be kindly toward him or her. Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver! If there is someone who is harsh or hard hearted with you, pray for him or her! Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put in you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh. Someone is angry with you and tells you off, but good, what do you do? Proverbs 15:1 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. See? All of that came from that one rude driver who turned out to be someone that I knew! It doesn’t cost anything (no skin off your nose so to speak) to be friendly, if you don’t want to be friendly, just be NICE! Jesus loved everyone and left us the example! He loved us enough to DIE for us! Don’t expect others to be nice to you first, YOU be the first one with the extended hand of fellowship: Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. And the best way to keep a friend is to keep your mouth shut and not repeat anything they have told you! Proverbs 17:9 He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates best of friends! 

Be blessed! Pray, be friendly, you never know who’s in that car in front of you!