How are you known? Are you known by your hatred of something? Or are you known for your love? Do people who see you – see love, or do they see hate? Negativity, harshness, condemning – or acceptance, warmth, peace? If Jesus lived with you, would visitors see any differences – comparing you and Him?
Are you smiling, inside and out, everywhere you go? Or are you thinking the worst of everyone and everything, on edge, irascible?
The Bible says that those outside the Church will know we are Christians because of how much we love each other. Remember the song, “…and they’ll know that we are Christians by our love, by our love….”
Instead of living by example, instead of living-out a biblical lifestyle of forgiveness and love, too many of us have become conformed to the world. Our “me first” society, our victim mentality, our litigious legal system, our entitlement demands, our payback get-even edginess… is where the secular world is at. But I see it in me and other Christians and in the pulpit!
Where is the love? When I see you walking down the street, is my thinking loving? Or is my attitude edgy, irritated, rushed, guarded, condescending or hating? Do I assess you and condemn you?
Remember the time Jesus was harsh, irritated, argumentative, hateful? Nope. That’s because He never was! There is never an excuse for me to be either! Really.
First and foremost, I will be loving, forgiving, patient and kind… always. As did Jesus – I will extend an attitude of “…neither do I condemn you….”
FOR MORE:
The Christian’s mission of love every day
Doing one act of love at a time
Act in love towards all peoples
Growing into our natural new life in Christ
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