Relationships can be a challenge—even in the church. While it's not hard to love a gracious and sacrificial God, it's much more difficult to love people who are selfish, rude, or unkind. Scripture is filled with guidance for how we're to interact with others, especially when they push our buttons. Jesus didn't just call us to love God; He commanded us to love one another—even our enemies. Paul echoed this in his letters, urging believers to live peacefully, respect one another, and treat others with patience and kindness, even when it's hard.
This Mother's Day message reminds us that a healthy church is not built on personal preferences or avoiding difficult people—it's built on love, mutual respect, and shared purpose. When we make it about ourselves, division follows. But when we shift our focus back to God, we begin to live in harmony. The church isn't a social club or a place to be catered to—it's a mission outpost. As Paul writes, we are to encourage the timid, care for the weak, and be patient with everyone. These aren't just nice ideas—they're commands rooted in the heart of God.
The church's mission is clear: reach the lost, love the broken, and reflect Christ to the world. That means choosing encouragement over judgment, peace over payback, and grace over resentment. Yes, people are messy. Yes, they'll sometimes wound us. But Jesus set the example by loving even those who rejected Him. Our calling is to walk that same road—to stretch out a hand to the struggling, to pray in the dark, and to model the life of Christ, even when it's inconvenient.
At the end of the day, the only way we'll live in unity is to tune our lives to Christ, not to one another's demands or personalities. We can't do this in our own strength—but when we surrender our pride, align ourselves with Jesus, and die to self, we discover a harmony that transforms relationships. So how do we deal with difficult people? By remembering: it's not about us—it's about God.
No comments:
Post a Comment