Love Transforms
When I see so much conflict and confrontation over people's opinions today, it makes me think back to the sixth grade. I was walking down the school hallway when an older girl suddenly approached me and threatened, "I'm going to beat you up!" My stunned response was, "Why?" She answered, "I don't like the way you act." Before I could process my thoughts, I said, "I'll change!" She stared at me, slowly turned around and walked away. Had I had time to think about it, I might have said, "I don't care what you think. I'm not changing." If my reaction had been confrontational or disrespectful, she wouldn't have changed, and I might have gotten beat up.
Over the years I've come to see that the loving attitude of our heart toward others can bring healing and resolution and even change in others, but not always. However, even if they don't change, I can tell you that you'll change. The Scripture says, "Those who are kind benefit themselves"(Proverbs 11:17). Another translation says, "Your own soul is nourished when you're kind." When you're good to people, you bring healing to them and you nourish your own soul. You're breaking down walls and barriers that would keep you limited. And that's what matters the most to God. He's not going to ask us how many people we changed, but whether we walked in love.
We need to ask ourselves what our purpose is for living. Is it to get our "right" opinion out there or to honor God? Honestly, the truth is that most people don't really care what you think, or if you go to church, or whether you know and say all the right things. What gets their attention is what you do. It's how you show your faith. The Scripture says, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6). What pleases and honors God is when we express our faith in Him through loving acts to other people.
In this world that is so full of differences, we need to step back and say, "I'm going to be loving toward people, especially difficult, unlovable people." Look for opportunities to be good to not only the difficult people in your life but also to those who are in your own backyard, or a coworker or a neighbor who could use your help. The Scripture says, "Do not withhold good from whom it is due, when it is in your power to act" (Proverbs 3:27). We can do far, far more through love than we can by spreading our opinions. God works in the most amazing ways through the expressions of our love and touches the lives of others.
Over the years I've come to see that the loving attitude of our heart toward others can bring healing and resolution and even change in others, but not always. However, even if they don't change, I can tell you that you'll change. The Scripture says, "Those who are kind benefit themselves"(Proverbs 11:17). Another translation says, "Your own soul is nourished when you're kind." When you're good to people, you bring healing to them and you nourish your own soul. You're breaking down walls and barriers that would keep you limited. And that's what matters the most to God. He's not going to ask us how many people we changed, but whether we walked in love.
We need to ask ourselves what our purpose is for living. Is it to get our "right" opinion out there or to honor God? Honestly, the truth is that most people don't really care what you think, or if you go to church, or whether you know and say all the right things. What gets their attention is what you do. It's how you show your faith. The Scripture says, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6). What pleases and honors God is when we express our faith in Him through loving acts to other people.
In this world that is so full of differences, we need to step back and say, "I'm going to be loving toward people, especially difficult, unlovable people." Look for opportunities to be good to not only the difficult people in your life but also to those who are in your own backyard, or a coworker or a neighbor who could use your help. The Scripture says, "Do not withhold good from whom it is due, when it is in your power to act" (Proverbs 3:27). We can do far, far more through love than we can by spreading our opinions. God works in the most amazing ways through the expressions of our love and touches the lives of others.