Thought for Wednesday, December 12th

December 12, 2012

The Perspective Of Our Attitude

“If we let the Bible criticize our thoughts, we will have the right attitude toward everybody.”

-       Walter Knight

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:3-5

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13

Have you ever stopped to wonder why some people in our lives are easier to like and some are easier to love than others?

People who agree with us: make us feel better about ourselves: and those who seem to value our presence, our thoughts and our ideas are generally easier to like and maybe even love than someone who challenges us on every issue: disagrees with everything we say: and in general seem to have a dislike for being anywhere near us.

People who share social status, lifestyles and philosophical ideas are generally easier for us to tolerate than someone who we perceive to be beneath where we think we are: or someone who engages in extreme lifestyles that are contrary to what we deem appropriate and acceptable.

Yet God’s word tells us we are to love all mankind equally.  We need to love the screaming baby in the restaurant; the parents who have no control over their children, as well as the children who are out of control: right along with the gay or lesbian person we encounter each day, or the homeless individual, or the alcoholic or the drug addict and the list could go on and on.

God is not a respecter of persons and He does not see one sinner as more worthy of His forgiveness than another: He sees us all as sinners in need of His grace and mercy.

We need to see each other in a similar fashion.  We do not have to agree with, approve of or even condone a person’s actions or behaviors: but we do have to love them in the Lord as a soul that Jesus died for who deserves the same life transforming, love, grace and forgiveness that we ourselves have received.

It may not always be easy: but does anyone we meet deserve less love from us than we have received from God?

Today’s Prayer

Father, help me to love those I deem unlovable and reach out to those who are different from me knowing they deserve just as much love from me as I receive from you.