When you are sailing and you hear thunder, you know there is a storm approaching. When you watch the weatherman on television, he gives you the forecast for the week so you can be prepared for upcoming bad weather. Being warned in a nonthreatening way is important; it keeps you from getting so scared that you run away.
I have a dog named Norman who barks at every little noise. It can become quite annoying at times. I can understand him barking at a doorbell or a knock at the door. That would be considered a “warning bark.” But Norman doesn’t stop there. He barks at the knock, then at the person who enters, and later he barks as the person leaves. I can’t even leave the house without him barking at me.
What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit (1 Cor. 4:21 NIV)?
In our daily walk with God, we must be careful to not be like Norman. Warning people about sin can easily get out of hand. We can push some people too far and cause them to fall deeper into sin.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud (Proverbs 16:18–19 NIV).
I’ve tried various methods to stop Norman from his incessant barking, but it is a day-to-day struggle, something that requires patience and love. With the right attitude, one day, I will have Norman behaving better. He just needs a calm, gentle hand to guide him.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
Just like I work with Norman, God is working with us to teach us how to approach people. The majority of lost souls cannot handle the out-of-control “barking.”
So, how do we know when to back off? If we pray before we approach someone, God will shut our mouths when needed. But we must pray first, otherwise we may get out of control and scare them off.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4–7 NIV).
Norman may never stop barking at every little sound, but I will do my best to help him, and I will also try to curb my own “barking.”
Debbie Mitchell