Christian Chefs Fellowship - Devotional Articles

Your response to vicious verbal assault can instantly reveal the Christian values by which you live.

"RESIST NOT EVIL: BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE ON THY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO." Matthew 5:39

Have you ever considered that when folks verbally "throw up" all over you with angry, hurtful, undeserved words, they may only be showing an outward symptom of a deep, inward hurting?

This truth came home to me this weekend at our Women's Retreat. I had a roommate so full of anger and hurtful words. I should tell you, this lady is in both the support groups I work with for chronic illness/pain. The Lord placed her in MY small group at the retreat, and now here she was in my room. No accident!

She directed her verbal abuse at me. At first I was crushed, for it was totally uncalled for. The Lord showed me to bite my tongue and just listen to and love her. To make a long story short, she ended up in my arms crying and emptying out all the garbage of hate and anger about things going on in her life. Deep healing occurred in her because the Lord had me turn the other cheek and love her with His compassionate heart. Going through this valley was a very humbling experience. But look how the Lord ended up using this time!

I know from my thirty-five years working in the food service industry that there are many difficult people we have to deal with; often they are other chefs. How we react to them can have eternal consequences. So, the next time someone "throws up" all over you, stop and ask the Lord for wisdom and insight about this person whom He loved enough to die for. You may be the instrument to reach out with our Lord's compassion and love and bring another hurting soul into the Kingdom.

Consider with me these verses:

"AND THIS IS MY PRAYER: THAT YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND MORE AND MORE IN KNOWLEDGE AND DEPTH OF INSIGHT, SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DISCERN WHAT IS BEST AND MAY BE PURE AND BLAMELESS UNTIL THE DAY OF CHRIST." Philippians 1:9,10 NIV
"IF ANYONE CONSIDERS HIMSELF RELIGIOUS AND YET DOES NOT KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON HIS TONGUE, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF AND HIS RELIGION IS WORTHLESS." James 1:26

Dear friends, keep these thoughts in your heart of hearts as you go about your busy schedules and have contact with so many people. Consider each encounter a divine appointment from God, not just an interruption to be tolerated. Keep walking with Jesus and He will give you guidance and wisdom. God bless you all!

His Servant, Chef Diane Boone

If God is speaking to your heart about these things, and you need somebody to talk with, please don't hesitate to e-mail us about your need and somebody from the Fellowship will contact you as soon as possible. If you have a prayer request or would like to start a theological discussion on this or any other topic please feel free to post it in our Message Boards.

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