"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye. (Luke 6:41, 42 HCSB)
I have been noticing some strange things lately. I don't think they are only just happening lately, it is just that I have become more aware of it lately. Isn't that how it goes. Things go on in your life and you never notice it and then all of a sudden it becomes glaring and it is all you see.
I have been so aware lately how we as the body of Christ just have trouble loving one another. Now, I have noticed it about myself to begin with and then it is just something that keeps showing up around me. I understand it, we are all made unique individuals. We all have a different reference on most of the things that happen in our lives. So the same thing can happen to two different people and you will have two different opinions about what has just happened. What a wonderful way God made us. So it is easy to see why we have so much difficulty loving one another. We all have our opinions on how events are taking place based on our frame of reference. And we are selfish creatures by nature so we each believe that our reference is correct. I mean that is how we see it, right?
So we go around telling our fellow brothers and sisters how they should be acting, what they should be doing to improve themselves without once taking a look at ourselves and maybe saying " I wonder how I can change to be more loving, I wonder how my brother sees that from their perspective" or even...
What does the bible say about that?
"But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you, and from one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36 HCSB)
This is what He says to do to our enemy. Do we even do this to those who are in our own families? I know I don't. I get annoyed when things don't go the way I think they should go, when those around me don't act like I think they should act. But I have begun asking myself, why should they act the way I think they should? The bible gives me an example to follow in Luke 6 that I am pretty sure I have never followed in my life. It is radical. But, what if I started to just meditate on those words, those examples that Christ gave. Maybe that would help me to think of others before myself. Maybe to consider their needs, their thoughts above my own.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4 HCSB)
When we are thinking of others needs it is much easier not to focus on ourselves. And not focusing on ourselves for a brief time might just do us all a little good.
Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36 HCSB)
Blessings
