Is there someone in your life at the moment that you can’t stand? Are they difficult to deal with and try your patience to the max?
I think we all have at least someone who we don’t see eye to eye with. Someone that we struggle to love the way Jesus asks us to in John 13:34-35.
I want to challenge you to change the way you see those people who push all your buttons. To re-think how you will respond when they treat you in a less than friendly way.
I, like you, have had plenty of people in my life that have hurt me, frustrated me and that I simply did not like.
Difficult relationships are an opportunity for our character to grow.
Have you ever found that there are some verses in the bible that we would rather gloss over? They sound good in theory but are hard to put into practice. Luke 6:32-36 is one such passage.
This verse challenges us that it is easy to love and be kind to those who love us but the real reward comes from loving and helping those who hate us. We stand out as Christians when we embrace the challenging truth of loving those who don’t love us.
In Galatians 5:22-23 we read about the fruit of the spirit. There is an extensive list of the type of qualities we are inspired to live out.
I have heard it said that those people who drive us nuts are actually fruit growers. They are people who grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Could it be possible that someone we don’t even like is helping us to grow more Godly?
How does your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control show in that difficult relationship?
I would like to suggest to you 3 reasons why we should embrace this important truth of showing love to those who frustrate us and even possibly hate us.
It is for our benefit we love those who hate us: we receive the blessing.
It bears witness to others of the amazing power of Holy Spirit working within us, empowering us to be counter cultural and love those we don’t see eye to eye with.
We are sinners too! There may be a time and a place where we are less than perfect and are in need of grace in the same way they do.
It isn’t easy.
But with the help of Holy Spirit it is possible to replace those feelings of frustration and dislike with love. It is even possible to get to the point where we are able to bless that person and wish them well.
Is there someone in your life at the moment that you struggle to relate to that could possibly be a fruit grower?
Lord,
Your word states that we are blessed and a witness to others when we love those who don’t love us. I want to take up the challenge to live this out in my life. Holy Spirit I need Your help as I cannot do this on my own.
Amen
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