Don’t Be a Jerk – Relationships Matter by ACHUCKAllen
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
How many times are we angered and annoyed when other people are jerks to us? Right? Anybody can go to war with a keyboard, or criticize other people. That’s the easiest way to respond in a chaotic world. But remember this: Jesus, the Lord has directed us, without room for “gray areas,” that we are called to kindness and forgiveness. Here is a truth that we all need to realize. It’s not always someone else that’s the jerk!
One of the hardest things to do in life is to be kind to other people. How many times has someone cut in front of you in line, talked about you behind your back, or just plain annoyed you for no reason at all? When you’re in these situations, how do you usually respond?
The easy response is to get even, lash out or do something mean right back to the person who did you wrong. However, as a Follower of Jesus, we are called to love others. This verse challenges us to be kind and forgive others regardless of how they treat you. And by the way, you can be assured that the Lord will settle the score in His timing, so trust Him with the outcome.
You can’t change how someone treats you, but you can choose to respond to them with gracious kindness. The end of this verse is also great. It tells us that we can do this because God in Christ forgave us. When you remember what Jesus did for you and how much he loves you, it empowers you to love others. You begin to value other people when you see how much Jesus loves you.
In your new routine, choose to make relationships a big deal. You will never look back with regret when you first choose to act or react in grace and kindness!
–AChuck
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