What Manner of Spirit - Luke 9:52-56

"...and they went and entered into the village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

On the surface, the words of these disciples might seem justified. They are even using scripture to back them up.  After all, these Samaritans rejected Christ. They "did not receive Him." Sometimes it is not the words or the actions we use that are inherently wrong, but the spirit behind them.  When Jesus spoke these words "he (had) steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem". That was the Spirit behind his words. Jesus said the words that I speak they are spirit  -and they are life.  Most words we speak are spirit of some manner, but not all are life. "  God says the power of life and death is in the tongue. We've all heard the phrase "it's not what you said but how you said it."  What really is the spirit behind our words? Is it judgment, self righteousness or anger? Or is it compassion, mercy, and love?

"Lord may my face be set toward Your cross and may this be the Spirit behind my words."