Too
often we judge people for their peculiarities and idiosyncrasies. We categorize
them, box them up in neat little packages and stick them away on a shelf in our
mind, ignoring them as much as possible.
Once
in a while our paths cross again, and we are forced to interact with this
peculiar individual once more. We take down our box, stick new labels on them
and place them back on the shelf as quickly as possible. They may be our
neighbor, spouse, child, sibling, relative, church member, co-worker or even
our employer.
Please
realize that within each of these precious people is a wounded soul. They are a
product of a lifetime of events, which molded their personality to give them
unique characteristics, which may irritate or even wound us deeply.
We
may go so far as to harbor bitterness toward them and possibly even dismiss
them from our life as a lost cause (Ephesians 4:32). However, these unlovable
people are diamonds in the rough.
They
are created by God, and He has a special plan for their life, just as He has
for us (Ephesians 2:10). God put them in our life for us to minister His Agape
love to them and to give them a secure and nurturing place to live (Matthew
5:47).
We
are all fallible and have our own weaknesses and peculiarities. How would you
want this person to treat you? There is healing for everyone at the cross of
Christ.
Sometimes,
people are unaware of God’s grace, and He gives us opportunities to give them
unconditional love, patience, security and friendship to model God's character
to them. His plan for this relationship may be for us to help heal the deep
wounds within their soul.
Prayer:
Father
God, You create everyone in Your image. We are all unlovable until You redeem
us (Ephesians 1:7). In fact, You loved us while we were still sinners (Romans
5:8). Teach us that when we allow Your Agape love to flow through us to someone
else, it is hard to stay angry at them or to consider them worthless.
Remind
us to pray for them and to look for opportunities to bless them. You may just
use this individual to bless us in some way too, if we look beyond the aspects
of their life which irritate or hurt us, and love them anyway.
Thought
for the Day:
Don’t
throw people away, because God wants us to use our freedom in Him to love and
serve one another, just as He died for and blesses us. –
Galatians 5:13
