We’ve all heard the saying that “wounded people wound people” and we’re typically best at identifying this behavior when a wounded person wounds us. It’s not so easy to identify when we’re the wounded doing the wounding. Right after Paul encouraged believers to have the same mind and attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:1-11), he calls them to continue obeying God, to work out their own salvation, and to refrain from grumbling and arguing. Why? VS 15 “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Paul was calling Christians to a life that was the opposite of the crooked and twisted generation; to a life that was different than the world, not the same! What is the Ricochet Effect? It’s when we allow the behaviors produced by the crooked and twisted generation to dictate our own behaviors and the direction of our own lives. Someone hurt you, so instead of remaining unblemished, you develop a critical spirit towards others. Someone betrayed you, so instead of remaining blameless you retreat into your own isolation reneging on your own commitments and promises to others. Someone abandoned you, so you abandon innocence and begin lashing out at others, controlled by anger. You’re wounded and you’re wounding, just as you were wounded but you don’t even see it! Fill in the blank____________ . What behavior from a crooked and twisted generation has been levied against you? How are you allowing it to redirect the direction of your life? How are you allowing it to control your own behavior? As Christians, let us react differently than the crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:1-18 ESV http://bit.ly/1ToaiVY)