“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

I’ve been around a lot of people over my lifetime who believe they are always right. You’ve probably met a few—maybe even more than a few. I recently read a C.S. Lewis quote in which he said that just about everybody walks into a room believing they’re right until someone convinces them they’re not. That may simply be human nature. As we celebrate this Fourth of July weekend, I’m reminded of a quote by Abraham Lincoln. He wasn’t a Founding Father, but he was certainly one of our nation’s most influential historical figures: “The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time.” — Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address. The beauty of this truth is that who is right or wrong is not nearly as important as following God, who is always right. Incidentally, I appreciate Lincoln’s acknowledgment that, in a disagreement, one person is wrong—and sometimes both people are wrong. Thankfully, God never called us to be right all the time. In fact, He didn’t call us to be right at all. He called us to do what is right. I’ve often counseled my children and grandchildren that what God desires of them is simply to do the next right thing. Today, follow God and let Him be right. #BeTheEdge

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)