Walking in LOVE…..even when I don’t feel like it!
Do people ever make you MAD? Irritate you? Rub you the wrong way? Hurt your feelings? Betray you?
I recently listened to a mother and her grown daughter arguediscuss something that had happened twenty plus years ago. The daughter, harboring unforgiveness and bitterness, was still visibly angry at her mom for a past offense.
Talking to a close friend, she shared with me how irritated she was with her husband. Even though she confessed it was so silly, she still couldn’t get over her negative attitude and felt he was just being stubborn.
People, because they are HUMAN, will always disappoint us. We will be irritated. We will get angry. Our feelings will get hurt. So….what should we do?
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
Just like we physically PUT ON our pants, we must IN FAITH, put on these virtues. We purpose in our hearts to PUT ON Jesus Christ. When someone is hurting, we need to be compassionate, NOT judgemental. We need to be kind to others (not just smiling at the clerk at Target, but being sweet to our family members even when we don’t feel like it!). We need to wait patiently for others, even when our schedules are busy and our frustration levels are high.
We need to “bear” with one another….overlooking personalities quirks and giving people the grace to be themselves. And, we need to forgive as Jesus forgives. Thankfully, Christ doesn’t make me suffer a little more, making sure I am truly sorry. Jesus went to the cross before I was ever born, covering all my sins with His blood. He said, “Father forgive them for they KNOW NOT what they do.” Do I extend this grace and mercy to others, or do I blame, saying, “She should have known better!”
Then, over all of this, we are to put on LOVE.
Am I forgiving to those who don’t “deserve it”? Am I patient with the “sandpaper” people in my life? Am I loving to the “unlovely”?
We sometimes don’t FEEL like loving others. But, the Bible tells us that LOVE is more than a “feeling”….it’s a BEHAVIOR.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude.
It is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1Corinthians 13:4-5)
Father God, thank You for Your example of unconditional love. Thank You for Your forgiveness. God, help me to put on Jesus, clothing myself in these virtues. Lord, I know I can’t live this way in MY strength, so I ask You Lord to help me live this out. I ask that the Holy Spirit would lead me and guide me, whispering to my heart when I need to be loving. Father, I ask that You pour out Your comfort and heal my wounds. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
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Awesome my friend.,
This is a beautiful reminder of the greatest of these….
Wonderful reminder today of exactly how far Gods forgiveness can take us. Life is way too short to live in bitterness and anger, today and each day I CHOOSE to forgive. It is a choice. -blessings, Laurie
more times than not, I have found God was teaching ME through difficult people. Great post.
Oh Amen! Tracy that was timely! We had a situtation recently at church that without LOVE—the enemy would destroy hearts…but as we focus on Jesus…HE is the LOVE that we show/share/give to one another!
What a blessing you are!
Thanks for the reminder. It’ hard to forgive your accusors when you have been frammed for a crime you did not commit. I know my LORD JESUS CHRIST was also falsely accused. I try daily to think and walk as he did.
This was a needed reminder! Thank you for writing this!
Beautifully said. I am so thankful for the grace and forgiveness God extends to me. How can I do less?
I so agree, Tracy. Sometimes it is very, very hard to put on love, but with Him we can do it. Thank you so much for sharing this wisdom with us.
Hi… I’ve been following your blog for a couple of days and I really enjoy your writings. This particular caught my interest for obvious reasons, being a Christian wife and mother. I can relate to this post in more ways than one and its refreshing to see reminders of what God calls us to do when when things get heated in our lives. Thanks for sharing!
It is always good to be reminded………….
thank you.
~Heidi
Like everyone else, I’ve been confronted with this problem. Lately, though, the Lord has “reversed” things on me. He has led me to concentrate on the times when I find I have been the “irritater” and not the “irritatee.” For example, turning around some of the questions you asked, the Lord asks ME: “Do you ever make people MAD? Irritate them? Rub them the wrong way? Hurt their feelings? Betray them? Because YOU are HUMAN, You will always disappoint others. They will be irritated. They will get angry. Their feelings will get hurt.” I say, “But, Lord, I didn’t intend to do so! “Perhaps,” He answers, “they didn’t intend it, either. And if you did intend it, I will forgive you just as you forgive them.” It certainly made me think–and continues to do so.
Tracy, These words are fo me girl….. Thank you.