Episode 288: I’m Talkin. . .React

I’m Talkin’, episode 288, for October 22nd, 2023.

This is Joel from the I’m Talkin’ microcast, where I share my thoughts on a topic that has piqued my interest this past week.

This week we’re talking React.

So yes, when I think of the word React, it’s just what I’m thinking about, probably just what you’re thinking about.

How do we respond to any given circumstance?

How do we respond to words and actions of others?

And how do we react when people are watching, or how do we react when people aren’t watching?

Thinking of the word React, it brings to mind a wide range of emotion.

Just depending on the situation, it could elicit happiness, sadness, tears, anger, probably all the facets of emotion that you can think of when it comes to a human.

And then I also think, what is the expectation?

When people are watching, they may have in their mind how someone should react in a given situation.

Or if no one is watching, you may have an idea of how you would like to react, and even how you would like to react when people are watching.

Oftentimes, the world in which we live reacts in such a way that you’re not sure how to take it.

And we are not all that good at controlling their emotions.

They’re not all that interested in doing what others think they should do.

And therein lies the challenge for those of us who call ourselves Christians.

As Christians, how we react says a lot about who we are, and what we believe, and who we believe.

If truth be told that our reactions are God-guided, then they would always be correct.

But we know that they aren’t.

But that is what we strive for.

And I think if we strive for God-guided actions, then what does that look like?

Well, I think at one point, we are more forward-looking.

This react to situations is often immediate in what our gut feels, and we’re not thinking thoroughly through the problem, the issue, whatever it is that we’re facing.

But if they are God-guided, then they are forward-looking to what it might mean in the future.

And it’s not so much that our reactions have to be subdued, or how we react can’t be full of joy and happiness and full of sadness or mourning, but it’s the source of those things.

It’s how do we react when the world is watching?

How do we let them know that we believe God is sovereign?

How do we let the world know that we are different?

Not just because we call ourselves Christians, but because we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

And we have the power of the Holy Spirit from a God who loves us to guide us.

And so when we react, it should look different than the world.

When we go through happy times, it should be praising God.

When we go through sad times, it should be praising God.

When we are mourning, we are still praising God.

And it’s very different looking to the world in which we live.

But you know who it’s appropriate for?

It’s appropriate for those of us who are challenged to live sold out for God’s glory.

Until next week, this is Joel from the I’m Talking Microcast.

I’ll see you next week.