Finding True Life-Giving Joy Part 2: We Love Others, When They Do and When They Do Not Deserve It
A life centered on God and finding true life-giving joy, means becoming more like Jesus. The more you become like Jesus, the more you're able to react and act out of love, instead of anger. Our sole purpose in this life is to glorify God. We can show people the true love of God by the way we love them. When our hearts are centered around an intensely loving God, and we feel his love, we are able to love others, and share his love with those around us. We can love, because we understand how undeserving we are of a perfect God's love.
So You're Really Good At Loving Those Easy to Love? Not the Jesus Way.
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.“
Matthew 5:43-48 NLT
Living your life, genuinely and wholly loving others is such a gratifying life, but it's not always that easy. There are/will be seasons in life, you will feel God's joy and you will find it easy to exude his love to everyone, but then you will find yourself in seasons that you're tested and loving seems to be the last thing you have energy for.
We encounter so many people during our walk on this Earth. There are/will be people that are easy for us to love like those that are like us, people we look up to and respect, our friends, people with the same hobbies etc. On the flip side, life is/will be full of people that hurt us, people that enjoy different things than we do, people that seem weird, the outcasts, people that drain your energy etc. If we are to love like Jesus, we are to love EVERYONE.
I cannot even tell you where I've heard this, but I love the saying, "I will fail you, you will fail me, but God will never fail us." It's so true! God is perfect, we are not, God chooses to love us, no matter our deepest and darkest secrets. A heart focused on loving God exudes his love to others, shining his light to the people you are around.
Side note, we are not door mats for others. God loves us, yet he still takes away, out of love for our growth, and to steer us on the right path. Boundaries are a very healthy and appropriate thing, and when healthy boundaries are set out of love, we are loving others and helping them grow.
”Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.“
Philippians 2:3-8 NLT
Genuinely loving others, allows others to feel God's love. Reacting out of love, gentleness, and grace instead of impulsivity and anger, helps others to feel a love that they may not have been given before. You simply will never help people grow and love God by criticizing and judging them, but you can help steer someone to God by modeling the love of Jesus to them.
But Revenge or Holding a Grudge Seems So Necessary Sometimes, Doesn't it? Nope. No Time For That.
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.“
Matthew 5:38-42 NLT
”Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.“
Romans 12:19-21 NLT
Sometimes people REALLY hurt us. Those wounds are deep, and their words and actions hurt in a way, you dont know that you will be able to move on. Jesus know this pain. He lived a perfect life, yet died on the cross for OUR MISTAKES. He was betrayed by one of his best friends. He gets it! No one understands more than Jesus, so let him help you through it.
The next time you're hurt by someone, instead of choosing a path of destruction and anger,
Go to a quiet place
Invite God into your anger, bitterness, rage and sadness
Allow yourself to feel your feelings
Ask him take control of the situation and help steer you to handling in a way that would glorify him
I promise you he can handle your feelings, after all he already knows them whether you allow him to help you through them or not. God is the only person that will not leave ababonded or fail you. Make him your #1 counselor.
A Few Points:
You will NEVER regret responding out of love, but you will regret responding and reacting out of anger.
YOU can be the reason someone believes in the goodness of God. God can use YOU to help others get to Heaven. Never belittle the power of God.
Loving others will lead to a much more peaceful life.
Genuinely loving others will fill YOUR life with love.
You will mess up, you're human. Do the uncomfortable thing and apologize. The way they react isn't yours to control. Your words are yours. Their words are theirs. Make sure your words are glorifying God in big ways.
Simple Ways to Love Others:
Don't allow gossip in your life
Call and check on people
Make eye contact and smile at strangers
Make bracelets and pass out to friends and/or random strangers/workers at businesses
Buy someone's meal in the fast food line
Choose life-giving words to those around you
Text the person that keeps popping into your thoughts
Extend grace to service industry workers, professionals, etc.
Start apologizing when you mess up
Be real with others
Hold the door open for someone
A simple compliment to a friend or stranger that you genuinely mean
Send a note in the mail
Text a prayer to a friend
Pray with someone in person
Be happy for others
Lift others up and cheer them on
Use thank you generously
Thank the people in thankless jobs
Share your ideas below!o
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