Sharing God's Love

In our day to day lives we run into so many angry people. Even store clerks act as if we are totally putting them out by asking them a question or simply checking out. Do you ever wonder what made them this way? Is their life so miserable that they now lash out at everyone around them, surrounding themselves with walls that they feel will protect them and keep people and pain at bay? I was there once, having been sexually abused as a child made me angry and for a short time, I felt like if I could hurt you before you hurt me, I would somehow feel less victimized and empowered by this destructive behavior. I was in fights a lot at school and hurting others helped temporarily relieve some of my pain and anger.

Maybe the person we are dealing with just got horrible news or they were rejected all of their life and never experienced love. If we then react to them with more negative behavior, we are just feeding a cycle that, with God's help, we could have had the power to divert.

The next time you are faced with a "mean" person, begin to ask yourself, what is the why behind the what. When you realize how miserable they must be living such an angry and depressed life and that Jesus gave His life for them, you'll begin to have love and compassion for even the most unlovable. Ask God to love them through you and help you see them through His eyes. You'll be amazed at how your perception of them will change. As you draw your strength and security from God, His love can flow through you to change the broken lives around you. I'm not saying it's easy, but as we crucify our own anger and defensiveness in these situations, we become free of its hold on us. We can then reveal more of God's nature to a dark and hurting world. We are called to show God's extravagant love! John 15:12 (NKJV) “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Ephesians 4:2 (TPT) With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience. 1 John 4:7 (TPT) Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. Matthew 5:43-48 (TPT) “Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don’t even the tax collectors do that? How are you any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends? Don’t even the ungodly do that? Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, become perfect like him.”