Love One Another

I see many people day in and day out so I see a lot of human interaction whether it be customers or employees. I see people and how they treat one another and it’s sad, especially families. People seem to have no love, forgiveness, grace, or patience for one another. You can kind of excuse the non-believers, but you still wonder where is basic human kindness.

As far as us believers we have been commissioned and commanded to love one another.³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35. I had an opportunity to be upset with an individual I even in my mind planned what I would say if given the opportunity and God convicted me and he said pray! Pray for your enemies and those who do wrong to you. Not an I want to be right prayer but a God touch them kind of way. I heard someone say if someone steals something from you they must need it more. When people are hateful they are trying to steal your Joy, Love, etc. They must need it more so pray for them to taste and see what you have seen of God. Or if you have not experienced what I am saying ask God to show you.

My mom has told me over the years when I have been angry or disappointed in how people seem to get away with things that we should feel sorry for those who treat people bad because really they aren’t happy. Where we have the peace, love, and joy of God in our lives they do not. They are not able to rest from what torments them inside. When you have the full power of God working in your life these things that seem to bother, bog down, and eat at other people just don’t have any hold on you. I have literally had people steal things that were meant for my life and God gave them back to me greater. There are no losses in the Kingdom of God. You aren’t winning by getting even and you sure aren’t gaining.

I was asking God why, why are people like this who are supposed to know you why are they so hateful and angry. The simple fact is that they don’t really know him. They know of him and some of them probably go to church every Sunday but they really don’t know him or have a deep relationship with him because the bible says that you can’t know him and not love your brother.7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8. If you have been freely forgiven and we all have, then you should freely forgive others. It does not say to be judgmental and hateful and get what’s owed to you. In fact, the bible says vengeance is the Lords.¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have^[a] regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19. Did Daniel take vengeance on those who tossed him in the lion’s den no he prayed and the lion’s mouth was shut.

Love shouldn’t be conditional. However, you can’t give what you don’t have and some people have not let the love of Christ manifest in them. It’s easy to take the simple things of God and put them on and claim we are Christians. It’s another thing however to let God challenge us and prune us, and to do things we may not want to like love that one that doesn’t deserve it, or admit we need to change or that we aren’t perfect. That’s a deeper walk that few are willing to walk.

Some people are also just jealous of others who are happy. Those who have joy when there is no reason to have joy. However, Jesus is no respecter of persons this joy that I have came from Christ and you can have it too it’s Free! His Love is Free! His peace is Free! You DO NOT have to be perfect you only have to believe in him. Little by little he may ask more of you but only things that will benefit you. Being angry and hateful and holding grudges does not benefit us they only dirty our spiritual waters. The world and unfortunately the church are full of dirty spiritual waters and with people who have not let God do the work he desires to do in them. The Bible says he desires that we all be made whole not broken. When we hang on to old hurts and bitterness we remain broken. The Bible says that we must deny ourselves pick up our cross and follow him.²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24. I pray you are all blessed in the weeks to come and that when given the opportunity you choose love. Let God do the work in you he desires to do.