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Listen while you read: "Kum Ba Yah My Lord"1
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I once knew a woman from our church community whom I really detested. Although gifted and attractive, she often said some very unkind and condemning things to others. I avoided her, and I wasn't the only one to do so. It really bothered me when she unleashed her vitriolic attack on a shy, quiet person who wouldn't speak back in self-defence. Many years later, I think back on her with distaste, yet in reading God's Word in 1 John, I am convicted by my lack of love for her.
1 John 2:7-11 – Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (NKJV)
John speaks of the love of Jesus, Whom we are to imitate, transcending any love ever shown. His love includes every person whom we will meet in this life! This holy love is possible only by Jesus' finished work on the cross, His life given for ours, so that we can love like He did. John is holding us up to a holy standard: the way that we love other Christians is a measure of our walk with the Lord. How we respond to sin and obedience determines our level of fellowship with God, but so does our love for His people.
If we can't love one another, it affects our own experience of God's love. We can do all the right things and believe all the right teachings, but if we can't love other people, our relationship with God is in danger. When I think back to my experience with this Christian woman, I now grieve that my attitude toward her affected my relationship with the Lord, but I was blind to it. My walk with God would have been so much more joyful and rewarding if I had responded to her with kindness in Christian love.
Is there someone in your church fellowship or community who is hard to love? Have life's experiences beaten and scarred that person into a crusty, unattractive individual whom people avoid? Only the love and sacrifice of Jesus make it possible to live the life of love that He did, and empowers us to love the unlovely. I pray that you can demonstrate this holy love for others, and be welcomed into a closer fellowship with our Lord.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your life of love that we are to imitate as we love Your children in Your church body. Heal our blindness and darkness, and guide us into the fellowship that You long to have with us. Amen.
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About the author:
Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@yahoo.ca>
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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I think I knew her, Shirley.
Thank you for reminding me.
Thank you, Shirley, for your very mindful words today. Blessings for your special writings.
Thank you, Shirley, for encouraging us to love others, regardless of how they act. It’s not easy!
I also went through this. Once I forgave the person, I experienced peace. Thank you for sharing this message.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. It’s so easy to love those who love us first, but so hard to like, much less love, the hard, cold, or prickly and angry people. Blessings.
Shirley, What a beautiful testimony of the Spirit’s work. You share how those abrasive qualities were like sandpaper for your heart, exposing your spiritual neediness. Thank you for sharing this. We need it. It’s easy to forget how those who annoy us can be God tools, “grace-builders” in our faith journey.
Hi Shirley,
Great message that we know, but we find it hard to put into practice. Thank you for the encouragement and I pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me and help me to do better.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this deep truth. When I began to read this morning, the face of a woman in my life came to mind. I felt that distaste come to mind again as I remembered her always stirring the pot to cause trouble. I tried to say to myself, she deserves it. But was reminded of the grace I have been given throughout my life. I asked the Lord to forgive me and give me the same grace you gave me. Your message hit home for me.
Good morning.
Love in this case would likely have been confrontation. I once had the unwelcome task of removing someone from fellowship because of continued destructive behaviour despite many warnings and following a process of discipline as described in Matthew. I still sometimes wonder if there was something more we could have done. In the end it’s in God’s hands.
Blessings.
Oh, my goodness, Shirley. You should probably hear from everyone reading your morning’s devotional because I am sure that each of us has had an experience with someone hard to love. I had and still have a friend like that. She just could not keep her mouth closed. One day in the bathroom at our church another lady said to me, “How can you be ‘her’ friend?” Some days it was pretty hard!
Now, in this very day there is a man in our church family, and I do not think he has one friend. We were on the Session together. He is very hard to accept as one of God’s children, but your devotional reminds me to try harder.
Thanks, Shirley.
Oh dear Shirley. I am certain we have all found ourselves there at one point or another.
I live in a cottage community one hour from Ottawa. A few years ago, we had a new couple who moved in and immediately started to create waves.
Long story short, I don’t know how anyone could want to deny children the beach games, races, sand castles, etc. Given we fought hard and long, our traditions were saved by our Municipal Council. Since that day, this couple has sought revenge on every person who was not on board with her agenda.
You couldn’t believe the evil things she has done over the past few years. She has tried to get me fired from my job. I am still employed, but it is hard to love someone that won’t let go. When I see her, we engage in chat without hostility, but inside I know she is plotting her next coup. I keep telling myself to continue trying to make inroads with her, but it is like pulling teeth.
I pray that someday this nonsense will stop, and we will be able to go back to living in harmony.
Thanks for your message, Shirley.
Blessings.
Very well said, Shirley, and a most practical encouragement.
Blessings,
(BC)