The holidays are upon us and I am sure you have run into some pretty frustrating people. It seems like so many people are in such a rush and can be so rude! One thing the Lord has really been working on me is learning to "love" these frustrating people.
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you" Luke 6: 27-31.
Some might say that it is impossible to love your enemies, but Jesus had to do this daily. OK really if someone took my jacket, would I let them just take my shirt? And if someone hits me wouldn't I want to hit them back? The trick is that you have to think of the other person as better than you.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” Philippians 2: 3-4.
When you put the other person's needs above your own, you will not want to cause them harm, you will want to help them. Now I am not saying that this is easy, but God can give us the strength to do anything... even to bite your tongue when someone cuts in front of you in a grocery line that you have been in for an hour!
God, change my heart and make it like yours. Teach me to love my enemies the way that you love me unconditionally.
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