Think about the roughly 600 people you know. Most likely you don't like all of them. Which is totally okay. We don't have to like everybody, we just can't hate.
"Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. (1 John 2:9-11)
Does this mean that if you dislike someone you aren't a Christian? Some might think that after reading through this scripture. But there will always be people like we will not like as well as others. John's words focus more on the attitude that causes us to ignore or despise others, to treat them like irritants, competitions, or enemies. Christian love is not a feeling, but a choice. Every single day we can choose to be concerned with people's well-being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection towards them. If we choose to love others, God will help us express our love.
Make the decision today. Be a Christian who is loving others because you want to. We can't just feel love, we have to choose it. We are blessed to live a life where we have that choice. Having that choice makes loving others that much more important and significant.
I also never want you to fear. Don't have the fear that you don't know how to express love to others. When we choose to love others, God will help us express our love. It's one of the most amazing things ever. God will help us express our love. I love that.
I encourage you today, to starting loving others because you have chosen to do so. When you shift your mindset to that, you will begin to live in the light, and Christ Jesus' love will shine brightly.
No comments:
Post a Comment