I'm convinced that even the low-key, neutral, get-along-with-everybody folks have one person that no matter what he or she does, it just makes the easygoing person agitated. I was talking with a friend of mine recently about who these agitating people in our lives are. Both of us are going through a season of dealing with said persons. We talked about how God is molding and shaping us through this season. We are open to God teaching us how to love these people that are unlovable. I decided to open my Bible and see what God's Word had to say about dealing with difficult people.
"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:23-26.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke 6:27-36.
This verse just amazes me every time I read it. It never fails to make me think about how much more generous I need to be in life, especially to my enemies. We as a human race have no problem giving to those who are kind to us, but what about those who have gone out of their way to be mean?
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:9-21.
With social media and cell phones, people are hardly genuine anymore. If people aren't genuine, how can their love be? When is the last time anyone used the word fervent? I had to look it up just to refresh my memory of its exact definition. Fervent means, "having or displaying a passionate intensity." Wow. Constant in prayer? Constant. That is something I definitely need to work on.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
This verse speaks for itself in all its magnitude.
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same?" Matthew 5:46
Boom. In Jesus' day, tax collectors were the lowest of the low. And even they loved those who loved them.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12.
Jesus gave His life for us because He loved us so much. We need God to give us the same hearts for others as He had for us.
