We've all been there. Frustrated. Annoyed. Angry. "Why doesn't he just listen to me? Why can't he do what I ask?" Then we fuss. We scream. We become disrespectful. We use ugly words in an ugly tone. We forget that the one we are
Jesus did not walk around this earth scolding people. He was not a mean, angry, resentful guy. He was gentle and loving. He treated everyone with pure love, no matter what they had done. Have you read the bible to see some of the things that people did and still received His love and healing? How do you imagine things might have been different if Jesus was to act the way we do sometimes? Can you see Him getting frustrated because here comes yet ANOTHER sinner asking for favor and healing? How well would it go over if He would stand on his "soap box" and start yelling and pointing His finger at everyone, "Why don't you listen to me? Why don't you do what I say the first time? You should be ashamed of yourself!" Even though he would be right, he wouldn't be loving. Would you submit yourself to that humiliation? Probably not. You would not be a fan of Jesus. He would have a hard time winning your love and respect. And that's what we want from our relationships, isn't it? Love and respect with a little understanding and compassion thrown in for good measure.
Whether you are right or not, the means will justify the end. You need to think about that. You can be right all you want, if you treat someone badly, they will eventually stop loving and respecting you. You are gonna be right all by yourself! At the end of your life, do you want to be sitting on your front porch in your rocking chair right but ALONE? I doubt it. I want my husband and children sitting next to me singing "Kumbaya".
We need to decide that we are going to treat others with love and respect over being right and rude. Sometimes, it may mean that we will have to have a submissive spirit. We may just have to back down and let things just be. We need to remember that we should treat the most important people in our lives as though they are the most important people in our lives! We should put them before ourselves, and, if we're important to them, they will do the same for us. Can you imagine what that relationship would look like?
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34
"Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18
"Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12
"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too." Matthew 5:44-45
"There are three things that will endure- faith, hope, and love- the greatest of these is love." 1Corinthians 13:13
"And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word." Ephesians 5:25-26
"Continue to love each other with true Christian love." Hebrews 13:1
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