Sailors are fastidious about boat lines, because lines are essential to survival.
Sailors do not want unnecessary knots in their lines, because If a knot isn't removed immediately it will tighten until it cannot be loosed.
An unwanted knot isn't just unattractive or inconvenient, it is a potential disaster. A knot weakens a line and can cause the line to break at a most inopportune time.
Too many knots go unattended and never get loosed in some relationships. Lives and relationships are often lost because of neglected knots.
Sometimes people don't know about the knots they have created, and they need someone else to point them out.
Sometimes the knots are tied through ignorance, sometimes through personality flaws and of course, sometimes because of being self-centered.
A few years ago I asked my family if there were any knots I had created, because I did not want to be responsible for broken relationships.
We must be courageous, humble and vulnerable to open ourselves to such scrutiny and criticism. But we can either live with the self we think we are or deal with the self we really are.
Not all criticism will be valid, even from loved ones, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Loose those knots.
Verses to Consider...
Lk. 14:11
For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Ro. 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Ep. 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ph. 2:2-3
2) Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Pe. 5:5-6
5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Ja. 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Sometimes people don't know about the knots they have created, and they need someone else to point them out.
Sometimes the knots are tied through ignorance, sometimes through personality flaws and of course, sometimes because of being self-centered.
A few years ago I asked my family if there were any knots I had created, because I did not want to be responsible for broken relationships.
We must be courageous, humble and vulnerable to open ourselves to such scrutiny and criticism. But we can either live with the self we think we are or deal with the self we really are.
Not all criticism will be valid, even from loved ones, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Loose those knots.
Verses to Consider...
Lk. 14:11
For whosoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Ro. 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Ep. 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ph. 2:2-3
2) Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Pe. 5:5-6
5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Ja. 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
