Wednesday, September 10, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 8

My nephew won’t be happy when he reads this LIO for his Group. Someone we know describes me as a “gentle giant,” and he detests the description.

That characterization stemmed from how I handled some volatile situations in our twenties. Whether the circumstances were physical or verbal, my approach was calm. Unfortunately, for most of us, navigating critical and judgmental spaces continues to be the norm throughout our lives. Social media has only created more opportunities for us to both judge and receive judgment.

I enjoy a good back-and-forth, whether in-person or online, if I know my audience. However, I try to avoid most real-life debates unless I can share my point of view in a healthy and educational way. I don’t always succeed.

Some conversations trigger deep-rooted emotions. To reverse the anger, I’ve learned to take a deep breath and count to ten. A good pause allows me to see the bigger picture. Quite often, for those who are in a relationship with God, a pause allows the Holy Spirit time to intervene and deliver clear wisdom into the situation as well.

1 Peter 3:9
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

It’s never a good idea to match or surpass bad energy. Sometimes you want to return the “favor” or one-up the aggressor because triggers are real. But they reveal something inside of you that hasn’t healed. These quick responses often leave you drained, wrong, and putting up shields that block blessings.

What does a witty insult teach the offender? It only gives them a reason to see you in a light dimmed by your arrogance, ignorance, or hurt. A quick return that mirrors their own evil reveals a lack of grace and growth in you.

You can counter with, “But you didn’t hear what they said,” or “Some people need to learn a lesson.” Those may be valid points, but others can say the same of your quick responses. Acting out emotions produces a blur. It’s challenging to see intent. Reflecting on emotions gives you time before you act – a better strategy than a shootout.

Learning to time your responses with patience is an act of love. And patient is what God has been with you.

Questions:
Does rushing to react to a critical or judgmental person usually help or hurt matters?

Can you recall moments when your judgment strained a relationship?

Next Steps:
Try walking away from (or scrolling past) a critical or judgmental situation to give yourself time to reflect. Pray about the conflict, and read Scripture to see how Jesus responded in those moments. Consider asking the person if they are willing to have a calm discussion about it at a later time.

Prayer:
God, I sometimes find it difficult to refrain from confronting the criticisms or judgment of others. Help me find a way to understand their frustrations so that I can reflect your love and understanding toward them. I know I have judged others out of fear and anger. I know that others’ worldly assumptions don’t reflect your truth. Guide my responses to show love, patience, and grace, as you have shown me. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 12:17-18
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.