I hate it when someone hurts me. I'm a human terror when confronted with an imperfection. I say, "It's one thing to know you're imperfect, but does the rest of the world have to go around reminding me?"
Well, I guess no one likes criticism, but I have to learn to accept it. Ah, me! Acceptance. Another hard part of loving others God has given me. Sigh!
The Bible's book of John makes how to love very clear when Jesus washes the disciples' feet. Jn. 13:34,35 reads: "A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." So, from one disciple to another, there must be love.
The study part of the Bible made how to love quite clear. "Love is more than simply warm feelings; it is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping others when it's not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others' welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of loving is hard to do, That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a supernatural source."
By accepting Jesus as our Lord, we accept His life in us, The Holy Spirit. And the Spirit will help us immediately when we ask Him to see us through an inconvenient time for us to show love. He'll be right there when we call on Him. If I think, oh this is so inconvenient.... or, I'm so tired today, or I have so much to do...I just can't do this, too!...and we probably will try to find an excuse! Well, just call out, "Holy Spirit, show me how to show love to this person, please!" And He will be there. Something will come into your mind or heart and you will be able to help the one asking for love. God helps us to keep the commands He gives us.
I know this is true. Some may think it just a baby step in obedience. Well, I am still a baby in a lot of ways. Figuring out how to love someone else when I am the one who is busy, hurting, needy, lonely, tired, or some other thing on my personal agenda isn't easy. And I'll probably fail sometime and forget to call on the Holy Spirit. But He'll always be there .......waiting. Having called on Him once and He came...and He helped me remember to have grace for the person who mildly complained of me, I felt such joy! Joy! Joy! I pray that I will always remember the joy of not giving in to my need to punish a poor offender! Love, with Christ's help, was easy to give away!
I am praying that someday this message will be read, will be believed, will be used and another person will have a new capacity to love.
Thank you, Lord, for your patience with me. It took me far too many years to learn this.
As for you, reader, I hope you discover the Holy Spirit is awaiting your call!
Friends forever..........
Jo of MN
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