How Should We Then Live, Part 1 Blog 5/5/2020
I often ponder the challenges of ‘getting along’ with others... family, brothers and sisters in Christ, pre- Christians, etc. I guess because I love those beautiful, harmonious moments. Harmony between real, everyday people comes at a great cost to ones flesh! Have you ever noticed that?! LOL!!! But when it is achieved we have a glimpse of heaven, of our Father Himself and what it will be like in eternity when we are all perfected.
Let me share some verses with you that are resting in my heart on this subject.
Colossians 3:12-14 TPT
12 You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. 13 Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. 14 For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark[a] of true maturity.[b]
Do you see that last line that I underlined and highlighted?! Yeah, I saw it too and I also saw the massive chasm between myself and the ability to walk in this mandate of Christ’s character. But remember, the Spirit of God Himself lives inside of us and it is ONLY through His supernatural Spirit that we can grow into this call of Love, and in the ability to apply this to REAL people and REAL situations! If you could hear the inside of my mind you would laugh. When I encounter difficult situations filled with difficult people I have to talk to myself the way I talked to my children when they were little and I was training them.
The other part of those verses that really stood out to me was verse 13... ‘Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Christ Jesus.’ I was not able to grasp this one until someone did it for me. My mind and flesh couldn’t let go of my ‘rights’ until I saw someone let go of their ‘rights’ and be gentle with me and forgive me when I didn’t deserve it. Folks it is POWERFUL when we extend gentleness, kindness, patience, forgiveness. It HEALS wounds! It EMPOWERS people to move beyond their weaknesses and trauma’s and flesh, it gives them the space and strength they need to grow and mature! It’s the mandate, the very DNA of every Christ follower to grow into this mindset and share it with each other. Love TRULY is the most effective, powerful weapon we can wield!
Be blessed and encouraged Lighthouse family!! We can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens us!