A Hunger That Can Only Be Filled

Reflection

I happened to be browsing videos one day when I came across a short clip. One statement immediately caught my attention. She simply said, "Christians are mean."

The Christian life is not about pretending differences do not exist. It is about how we respond when they do.

I have heard that statement before. Sometimes people say it because they disagree with what Scripture teaches, and they mistake truth for unkindness. Yet if we are honest with ourselves, there are also times when believers have failed to reflect the character of Christ. We have not completely put off the old nature, and it shows in the way we speak and treat one another.

It is easy to recognize sins such as murder, adultery, idolatry, or sexual immorality. Those are obvious. Yet Scripture also speaks plainly about sins like gossip, quarreling, slander, malice, bitterness, and an unkind tongue. We sometimes treat these as though they are lesser sins, but God never does.

I will never forget sitting in a Bible study years ago and watching the pastor and another man argue back and forth. As a young believer, I sat there stunned. Then something unexpected happened. A wave of sadness came over me. I had walked into that room expecting to find peace, gentleness, and love among fellow believers. Instead, I witnessed division.

Reflecting His Character

That moment has stayed with me over the years.

Paul's words to Titus remind us that believers are to speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show meekness to all people. Notice that he does not say we will never disagree. The Christian life is not about pretending differences do not exist. It is about how we respond when they do.

Gentleness is not weakness. Meekness is not surrendering the truth. Jesus never compromised truth, yet He was described as "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). He corrected with compassion, confronted with wisdom, and spoke with grace even when others rejected Him.

A Humbling Reminder

Then Paul does something remarkable. Immediately after telling believers how to live, he reminds them of who they once were.

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived..." (Titus 3:3).

What a humbling reminder.

Before Christ saved us, we were all slaves to sin. We followed our own desires without thinking about God. We spoke carelessly, acted maliciously, and lived according to the flesh. None of us stands above another because of our own goodness. Every believer has been rescued by the same grace.

Responding in Humility

When we remember where God brought us from, it changes how we treat those around us. Instead of responding with pride, we respond with humility. Instead of returning harsh words for harsh words, we seek to answer with gentleness. Instead of assuming the worst, we remember the patience God has shown toward us.

As believers, we are no longer defined by our old nature. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have been made new. The Holy Spirit is at work within us, producing a character that reflects our Savior. As we walk in obedience to Him, we should see His gentleness, His humility, and His love becoming evident in the way we speak and the way we treat others.

When we remember where God brought us from, it changes how we treat those around us.
Every believer has been rescued by the same grace.

Before You Go

The world is watching how believers treat one another. While we cannot control what others say about Christianity, we can strive to reflect the character of Christ in our own lives.

The next time you find yourself in a disagreement, remember Titus 3. Before Paul reminds believers how to speak to others, he reminds them who they once were. We have all been recipients of God's incredible mercy. May that mercy shape the way we speak, the way we respond, and the way we love.