Godly Things We Should Do... And It's Hard! Part 3 of 4 Loving Others

Godly Things We Should Do… And It’s Hard!

Part 3 of 4 - Loving Others

Continuing with the 4 part series…

Specific things I can pinpoint that I didn’t obey are 

1. Forgiveness

2. Being Grateful

3. Loving Others

4. Compassion

Loving Others

Oh boy… Saddle up because this one is something that I think EVERYONE is struggling with right now.

Love.

I don’t think I need to put the definition of love on here 🤪

We all have our family, friends, pets, places, certain objects, sunsets, sunrises, (just me on those last two? I have way too many pics of both on my camera roll 😆) and so on. Then we have those that we don’t love so much… call them enemies, frenemies, co-workers, family members, or what have you, but I bet for some, the list of those that you don’t love so much outweighs the list of those that you do love. I believe this to be the norm for most. There are those people that never meet a stranger and have a great way with people and seeing that people are generally good. I’m a little step in the opposite direction. I believe that people CAN be good, but that for the most part they choose otherwise.

The world hasn’t helped us. The world, over the last several years but honestly within the last probably 4-6 years has really divided us. With talks of race, politics, beliefs, and faith it’s not always a two sided conversation. And it’s caused people who were once friends to become enemies. This is not the way Jesus wants us to be.

How does this verse hit my heart so much? There really isn’t much to it, but yet it is filled with so much it’s hard for us to comprehend. You mean.. I have to love my enemy? I have to love the girl that cussed me out on social media the other day? I have to love the person who cut me off in traffic then proceeded to flip me off like it was my fault? I have to love the person who told me that my beliefs were ignorant and that I should die because I hate people? I should love the girl at Walmart who gave me dirty looks and was rude to me just because I was checking out with my groceries? I have to love these people? But they don’t love me! Why should I love them? Well the answer is pretty simple… because Jesus loves them.

The same logic applies to loving others as it does to forgiving others. How can we expect Jesus to love us if we do not love others?

I don’t believe that we can flip a switch and change our views and our ways overnight, just as we can’t just flip a switch and change years of bad behavior overnight and become the “perfect christian” but I do believe that we can start to make it a conscious decision that when we feel the anger building up within us when someone gives us attitude, that we push the anger down and decide to pray for them. Pray for them and pray for ourselves to see the good in that person and to love them.

Now unfortunately this isn’t going to fix someone else that cannot see or feel love in their hearts. The world is becoming a pretty evil place filled with hate and bad intentions. We must push through and vow to keep the peace and love within ourselves and pray for those to feel that peace and love to.

I have a challenge for you.

Starting today after reading this, say a prayer. Pray for a soft heart. Pray to see the good in people and not just the bad. Pray for your enemies. Pray for those that wish ill will against you. Pray for those that, right now, are so filled with anger and hatred that they are willing to push people out of their lives for good. Then start to apply this to your life.

I hope that you all have a happy and blessed Friday and long weekend!