Daily Devotional Details

Date

Do not be haughty. Romans 12:16

To be haughty is to look down on others, to think you are better than them because of a superior intellect, lifestyle, or achievements.
Here is a letter from John Newton (wrote Amazing Grace) to a friend who was about to write a public response to someone with whom he strongly disagreed. Newton wrote to warn his friend about the spiritual dangers of engaging in public controversy.

Dear Sir,

As your love of truth is joined to a natural warmth of temper, my friendship makes me solicitous on your behalf. I would have you triumph not only over your adversary, but over yourself.

I wish that before you set pen to paper against him, and during the whole time you are preparing your answer, you may commend him by earnest prayer to the Lord’s teaching and blessing. This disposition will have a good influence on every page you write.

If you count him a believer, though greatly mistaken in the subject of debate between you, remember the Lord loves him… therefore you must not despise him, or treat him harshly. But if you look upon him as an unconverted person… he is a more proper object of your compassion than of your anger. “He knows not what he does.”

[Most] writers of controversy either grow in a sense of their own importance, or imbibe an angry contentious spirit, or they withdraw their attention from those things which support a life of faith, and spend their time and strength upon matters which are of secondary value. What will it profit a man if he gains his cause and silences his adversary, if he loses that humble, tender frame of spirit in which the Lord delights, and to which the promise of his presence is made?

Reflect with the Lord about your social media engagement.