Friday; August 2


I wish I could say that it is easy to like everyone, but we all know that isn’t true.  There are some people who just aren’t very likable and others hold beliefs that are in such conflict with ours that we find it hard to be civil to each other.  Some people are abusive to us and others belittle those things we hold dear.  Let’s face it, there are just some people we don’t like! 
Okay, now that we have established this fact, what do we do with it?  Sure there are people with whom we are going to have issues, does that mean that we have the ability to treat them any different than others – even when we can prove that we are right and they are wrong?  Can we justify treating them with any less dignity than those we respect? 
If there ever was a person who was mistreated, it was Jesus.  People bad-mouthed Him, lied about Him, called Him bad names – and they even killed Him.  Yet, He set the standard for treating others with respect.  Fortunately, to help us from making excuses for our behavior, He made respecting all others a requirement for anyone who wanted to follow Him.  As He began His ministry He taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45).   
How are we treating those who abuse us?  What are we saying about those who are saying nasty things about us?  If we are going live up to our calling, we will treat them with respect.
Think About It!

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