Key Bible Verse: He is the divine Yes—God's affirmation. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in him (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). Bonus Reading: Titus 2:1-15

Many people have a basically negative outlook on life, with a streak of cynicism. If this continues to fit you, you and your wife will end up miserable, and your children will end up negative—about you! There's nothing wrong with seeing the negative side provided you're prepared to work your way through to the positive side.

Sometimes we have to reprove another believer, though always in love. If you can't speak hard truth in charity, then let someone else do it. You're disqualified. If we make our message and concerns 80 percent love and 20 percent judgment, then I reckon we have the balance about right.

Perhaps you're a young Christian, anxious to impact your neighborhood with an aggressive outreach. Already you can see the elders at your church shaking their heads and muttering, "We tried that in 1954, and it didn't work. You'll only turn people off." Satan is keen to polarize old and young, pitting zeal against experience. Youths often condemn the established church. One cult called it the "system" and urged people to leave it. Rebellious young people did so in great numbers. Ironically, they ended up probably more regimented than in any branch of the Christian church.

—George Verwer in No Turning Back

My Response: I'd score my own love/judgment ratio as …

Thought to Apply: God, help us not to despise or oppose what we do not understand.—WILLIAM PENN (founder of Pennsylvania)

Adapted from No Turning Back (Tyndale, 1983) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, I realize that Satan would love to switch me off on some siding. Please keep me on the mainline of Your will for me.

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