Talking to a friend one day who was struggling with his relationship to another person, I shared about the need to love as a first requirement.
This clearly bothered him and he was exasperated with me and defensive about his own actions. We can never justify un-Christ like behavior. When I gently pressed him on his perspective, his explosive reply was I can’t pretend to love him, that’s unreality!
God does not ask us to pretend. He asks us to live in Jesus and practice his nature with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I find it odd that Christians will spend hours praying for the presence of God to come. He is here. He is within us. You just have to learn how to tune into his presence, through thanksgiving, praise, worship, meditation and focus. Difficult people are our shortcut to becoming Christ like. They present us with a brilliant opportunity to practice love.
Love your enemies, bless those who persecute you, pray for those who abuse you. It’s the only fast track we have to a brilliant relationship with God.
Who are the hard to love people around you at this time? Identify them and also what they need to see about the goodness and kindness of God. Supply that need! Don’t let their lifestyle put you off in your own behavior. You are responsible for who you are and how you show up in life.
Keep a record of what happens as you practice love.
What is the price of not moving on?
When we allow events to stop us from growing, changing and receiving, then we are beating ourselves twice.
Firstly, there is no present victory and secondly, we are denied our future inheritance. Heads the devil wins and tails you lose! What are you going to do about it?