Wanna fight?

Hebrews 12: ¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

============

Walking back to my dorm room I had a lot on my mind. As I was sorting things out someone opened their door and screamed out foul names directed at me. I immediately stopped thinking about class and thought about finding the biggest guy I knew.

We banged on the door until it almost broke. We threatened and intimidated them quite nicely I must say. I wonder if I could preach the message of CHRIST to them right after that incident.

• Living with the spirit of “fight” weakens my message of GOD’s love.
• Living with the spirit of “argue” closes off the ears of my opponent when I speak of GOD’s love.
• Living with the spirit of “anger” blinds those who are looking at me as an example of GOD’s love.
• Living with the spirit of “resentment” leaves others cold toward my message of GOD’s love.

Too many times sin has gotten in the way of GOD’s love and I choose to not be a good example. I’ll choose war over peace to teach “that” person a lesson. BUT GOD has another way.

• JESUS chose to die peacefully so that I may live.
• JESUS gave me a new commandment that I love others as I love myself.
• JESUS showed me the example of peaceful living so I have no excuse for not following HIS ways.

I have to admit peaceful living is difficult. When I see someone acting foolish then I feel it’s my duty to bring it to their attention! GOD says “I love them as much as I love you.” HE wants me to love those who are difficult to love so even they may accept GOD’s message of love.

• Are you at odds with someone?
• Are you ready to fight “those” people?
• Can you put your differences aside and live in peace specifically to show GOD’s love?