I think of the people that frustrate me, irritate me; or
the people who have hurt me or my loved ones. I think about the people who are
ungrateful, picky, mean, selfish, judgmental, self-centered, the liars,
thieves, etc., the list goes on. When I think of those people or when they are
put in my life and I have to stand face to face with them it is almost as if I
have put a mirror in front of my face: I see that I am also one of “those”
people in more ways than one! Despite my efforts and my goals to be this great
person, I see that behind it all is the ugliness that I so often see in others.
I see that I am the liar, I am the selfish person, I am the picky person who
irritates others at times; I am ungrateful… I am all of those things at
different times to different people. I am the things that I see and dislike in
others. But how could that be?! “Those” people are the people I have the
hardest time loving! Maybe even though I don’t realize it, God is showing me the
things that are in me. It’s as if he shows them to me and I try to push it away
and say, “NO GOD! That is NOT who I am!! Please God, help me! I want you to
love me, I don’t want to be one of those people! I want to be the person who
loves you and others perfectly. I want to be the one that pleases you! I want
to hear the words, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant!’ Please God, tell
me that I am not that person you just showed to me.”
But the truth is, I am so far from where I wish I was. I
am so far from the person that God has created me to be. It is as those times
that I begin to see what is really in my heart and I am discouraged and even
disgusted. “How could this be? Lord, I have sought you and desired to love you
more than anything! How can I be the person that is sitting back and judging
those around me? How can I be speaking, thinking or looking negatively on those
around me? THOSE are your sons and daughters! THOSE people are the ones who you
love more than anything! Why would I ever think I am better than them in any
way? Who am I Lord? Who am I to judge your children?!?!”
I see the truth that is in my heart and I am hit to the
ground. “Lord, I am so unholy. I don’t even
deserve your love! I don’t even deserve to…” He stops me mid-sentence and says:
“Daughter (Son),… my
love is not for those who deserve it. My love is not conditional and it
is not based on who you are or what you do or DO NOT do. My love for you is
everlasting and does not waiver for anything.” I guess I have not fully received
and accepted the love that God has for me, because His love is not flowing
through me onto others the way it should. It puts me face to face with a mirror
that shows me that I am not who I thought I was. The thoughts, the heart
attitude and the actions that follow are far from what they should be and it is
discouraging and frustrating to realize that although I thought I had come so
far, I have missed the essential part of EVERYTHING…Love.
The hard truth is that no one deserves God’s love. And there is such beauty in that truth. Thank
goodness (no thank GOD) that His love is for everyone and not just for those
who deserve it, because I would not be on the list of those who deserve it and
I don’t think you would be either. It’s just that none of us deserve God’s love
and yet he freely gives it. He sent His son Jesus to earth to die on a cross
for our sins. Jesus was perfect, BLAMELESS, without sin and he died for our
sins! Now that is love. The thing I can’t get my mind around is when I picture
Jesus hanging on the cross after being beaten and tortured practically to death
by these people—and he says “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they are doing” (Luke 23:32-34). These people have just done the worst to him
and they are about to kill him and Jesus prays to the Lord asking for
forgiveness for their sins. WOW, we have an amazing Savior. This is a love
beyond our comprehension.
We can look all throughout the 4 Gospels and see that
Jesus never had anything but love for those around him. He always made time for
them and found ways to show them their potential, value and worth. I would
encourage you to look up the story of the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4.
This woman was the type of person people would not want to be seen even
speaking with. She was the “outcast” and it could ruin your reputation among
others if you were seen speaking to her.
Men in particular would not speak with her, but it was also uncommon for
men to speak with women in public in general. And yet Jesus comes and speaks with her,
showing her that he knows her, he knows her background, she is valuable and
worth his time. Not only did he love those who were desperately alone and in
need of love, he loved those who treated him as though he was nothing. Those
who flogged him, mocked him, spat on him…He loved them all. And I have a hard time loving the people who
just irritate me a little? I have nothing to compare and no reason to complain:
I need a heart change.
The real thing I need is to RECEIVE the love that has
been freely given to me. Once I begin to accept and receive this love with the
knowledge that it is not because I deserve it or because of anything I have done,
then I can begin to walk freely in God’s love. I will no longer feel that I
have to do everything right in order to please God and earn his love; and I
will also be able to give His love freely to those around me. God is love, and he loves us whether we want it
or not. If we accept and receive it, we will begin to allow it to flow through
us onto others; yes, even the people who are seemingly “impossible” to love.
Jesus also has these words to say to us:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy’. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43-44)
That seems impossible right? To love our enemies and pray
for those people who are persecuting us and making our lives more difficult? The truth is that those are the people who
need the love the most. Those people who are the hardest to love are usually
that way because they do not have love in their own lives. They have not received
God’s love and they may not have ever had anyone in their lives show them what
real love looks like. Wouldn’t you love to have the opportunity to be the first
person to show someone real love? The kind of love that they have longed and
hoped for and yet never been exposed to?? It sounds appealing and exciting when
you think about it, but it may not be as easy as it sounds once the opportunity
comes your way. We must receive God’s love in order to truly love those around
us. We cannot do it in our own strength and efforts. Remember, our human love
is conditional and circumstantial; it is only God’s love that is unconditional
and never-ending. So we can do it in His strength!
So maybe you are like me, and are in a place where you
feel like the love is not pouring out of you; or maybe feeling discouraged
about the fact that you are so far from where you would like to be. My encouragement to you is that we are in the
process of being changed and restored. God is working in us and each day he is
helping us to grow stronger and to become the people he created us to be. But
we also have to ask for the changes, desire the growth, seek Him and allow Him
to make the changes in us and through us.
It may not be an easy process. It may take a lot of sacrificing and time…but
the beauty that comes through the ashes will be worth every difficult moment. I
would encourage you to watch this music video; it was an encouragement to me
today!
The
hope??? Watch this video:
And maybe you are in a place where God is working through
you and pouring his love onto all those around you, and if that is true, MORE
POWER TO YOU! Praise GodJ Keep
relying on God’s strength and spreading his love to everyone you meet; we need
more people like you in our world, that’s for sure!!
May you be blessed, encouraged and may God pour His love
all over you until it is overflowing to those around you. Go out and love
someone.
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