Have you ever encountered a "sandpaper person"? You know, someone that rubs you the wrong way. Most of us want to run and hide from sandpaper people. Sometimes we escape them, but not for long. Eventually, we'll run head-on into another one.
I asked God, "Why?"
"Because I'm doing some of My best work in you when I place sandpaper people in your life," He said.
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to love a sandpaper person? They're usually arrogant, mean, rude and selfish. They like to demand their own way and boast in their accomplishments. Yet, God has called us to love all people - not just the lovable, but the unlovable as well. The Bible says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:11)
You may be thinking that's impossible. You're right; in our own strength we can't love the unlovely. I find it hard to love the fake people around me, okie. Hey, I'm only human. Yet, God's love is different than ours. We express love according to how we feel. When a friend is caring and helpful, we feel loved and then we express love back. We call that kind of love "friendship love". When being close to our spouse gives us a warm fuzzy feeling, we call that "being in love". However, if we love only according to our feelings, then we'll never learn to love the unlovable, because the one thing we don't feel around a sandpaper person is... love.
While most love according to their feelings, God's love is more of a response of the will. Examine 1 Corinthians 13:4 as it explains how biblical love responds:
Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love doesn't demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad over injustice, but rejoices when truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You'll believe in him and always expect the best of him, while defending him.
That's how God loves us. No matter how mean or selfish we are, or how many times we settle for our own way of doing things instead of His way (*hangs head in utter shame*), God still has the capacity to love us. When we truly realize how God, by His mercy, has loved us to the end of our meanness, selfishness and pride, then no matter how heartless another person may be, we can chose to respond to them in a loving way also.
We respond to all people with love when we choose to see them as a valuable person created by and in the image of God. Love is not a feeling; it's a choice. It's a choice that leads to lovely responses toward others. This is what I wrote a few weeks ago about forgiveness: CLICK HERE ---> *Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy For Me*
I asked God, "Why?"
"Because I'm doing some of My best work in you when I place sandpaper people in your life," He said.
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to love a sandpaper person? They're usually arrogant, mean, rude and selfish. They like to demand their own way and boast in their accomplishments. Yet, God has called us to love all people - not just the lovable, but the unlovable as well. The Bible says, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 John 4:11)
You may be thinking that's impossible. You're right; in our own strength we can't love the unlovely. I find it hard to love the fake people around me, okie. Hey, I'm only human. Yet, God's love is different than ours. We express love according to how we feel. When a friend is caring and helpful, we feel loved and then we express love back. We call that kind of love "friendship love". When being close to our spouse gives us a warm fuzzy feeling, we call that "being in love". However, if we love only according to our feelings, then we'll never learn to love the unlovable, because the one thing we don't feel around a sandpaper person is... love.
While most love according to their feelings, God's love is more of a response of the will. Examine 1 Corinthians 13:4 as it explains how biblical love responds:
Love is patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love doesn't demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad over injustice, but rejoices when truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You'll believe in him and always expect the best of him, while defending him.
That's how God loves us. No matter how mean or selfish we are, or how many times we settle for our own way of doing things instead of His way (*hangs head in utter shame*), God still has the capacity to love us. When we truly realize how God, by His mercy, has loved us to the end of our meanness, selfishness and pride, then no matter how heartless another person may be, we can chose to respond to them in a loving way also.
We respond to all people with love when we choose to see them as a valuable person created by and in the image of God. Love is not a feeling; it's a choice. It's a choice that leads to lovely responses toward others. This is what I wrote a few weeks ago about forgiveness: CLICK HERE ---> *Forgiveness Doesn't Come Easy For Me*
So how is God teaching us to respond with His kinda love? You guessed it - by not "losing it" with the sandpaper people in our lives. When we respond to the meanest person we know with the loving kindness of God, then God has done one of His best works in us. He has taught us how to love as He loves!
Easier said than done, I know... but with Christ, I can do all things! Please pray for me, okie... ;P
Dear Lord, thank You for loving me not because I'm lovable, but because You are LOVE. Help me to love the unlovable in my life the way You've loved me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
8 comments:
Dude, that is some powerful stuff! Did you think of that??
partly... ;D hope u were blessed by what was shared... cheers!
*praying*
awww... thanks, pauline! =D i dun even know who u r after all this time... do u haf a blog? ^_^
well said. God's word is powerful when it become the truth and reality in our life.
Do we love God enough to obey hard truth is the question.
yeah... true... pls pray for me... ;P
hehehe...yeah I do but then it is kinda like a diary, personal =P
You take care there ya..
Remember this: You are more than a conqueror, an overcomer!
Be strong, you'll make it through..
I am not sure if you want me to pray for you
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