 Lately I've been thinking about how I treat people. Now in my defense I'm never intentionally rude or mean it's just that some times I'm busy. Sometimes I've got a lot to do. Sometimes I'm trying to accomplish as much as I can for the Lord. Wait. What? Did I really think that thought? Unfortunately the answer is yes.
In my spiritual immaturity I sometimes get aggravated by and impatient with people who I feel don't fit into my current agenda. Crazy right? If you're anything like me then you'll admit that you've been there too. You're in the midst of your daily flow, blowing through your to-do list and suddenly someone wants to stop you and chat about anything and everything that has nothing to do with anything on your list. Frustrating right? To further solidify in your mind the depth of my spiritual immaturity I'll let you in on a few of my coping mechanisms. If you ever witness me doing one of these, feel free to slap me. As the "interruption" talks, I allow my eyes to wander back towards my computer screen in an effort to continue my previous task. I stand up as they speak to communicate my desire to end this conversation. In my most ridiculous moments, I simply end the phone call or the face to face conversation by clearly communicating through my body language or lack of verbal response that "I'm done with you". Classy right? Not only is my response to these "interruptions" a poor example of how it looks like to treat another human, it's an even poorer example of what it means to be a Christ follower. How can I ignore the words of John 15:12 where Jesus says, "This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." That seems pretty clear. What about 1 John 4:20-21, "If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers." Again, pretty clear. Here's the question I ask myself from time to time when it comes to following Jesus. Am I following everything He said? Sometimes it feels like I allow myself the liberty of exempting myself from certain Biblical commandments when I'm busy or when I'm tired or when I'm just not feeling it. I don't see anywhere in Scripture where that type of attitude towards the things of God is acceptable. Here's my prayer: "God I pray that you would forgive me for this type of attitude and allow me to see every opportunity or as I call them, "interruptions" that come across my path in the same way that you see them. Give me your eyes, give me your ears, give me your patience. Grant me the ability to see people the way that you see people. Amen." Be encouraged and keep moving forward. Comments are closed.
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