With all that is going on in our world, there is much hatred and fighting that nothing is really getting done. I am thinking about 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter of ‘Love’, and how one of the things listed on love, is that Love does not demand it’s own way.
There is a lot of yelling and screaming but nothing is being heard because of all of the noise. I see a world filled with a bunch of children throwing temper tantrums. Basically saying I want what I want, and you are going to give it to me! A good parent would not reward their child by giving into their child’s tantrums. They would discipline their child. Wrong behavior should not be rewarded. Just because you do not agree with the other does not mean that you can bully your way into getting what you want.
There is no true winner in any fight. Both parties get hurt one way or another. Listen to what each other is saying even if you do not agree on what is being said. I can hear a person yelling at me, but that does not mean that I am going to listen to what they have to say because they have screamed their demands at me. I am sorry I am not a soldier and you are not my drill sergeant where I have to do what you yell at me. I am a person who has free will to think for myself and just because I do not agree with you does not give you the right to yell or scream your demands at me. There is a saying you attract more flies with honey than vinegar. You have the right to have your own thoughts and desires, but you nor I have the right to make you think or do as I do. Fighting will never accomplish anything. Sometimes you have to agree to disagree.
I can respect you without having to agree with you. Respect does not mean I even have to like you. It does mean I can exist without doing you harm. I can listen to what you have to say without being offended and raising my voice and slandering you for what you have to say. I should not demand that you agree with me, but show you the respect that will hopefully have you show me the same respect. Instead of getting angry because I do not like what you have said, understand that is your point of view and that I do not have to cuss at you or call you names. Doing that will never get you to listen to me if I did, it would just lead to more fighting.
Jesus taught us to love our enemies. That does not mean we agree with them, but that we give them the love that He gave to us before we even knew Him. A love that none of us deserved. He gave His life to save us while we were His enemy. Through His sacrifice we were given grace, mercy, and salvation. Yet we withhold this grace and mercy from anyone we do not agree with. Forgetting that none of us are truly righteous and that we all sin and are far from perfect. Remember our ways, are not His, and our thoughts are not His thoughts. It is not our way of doing things that we should be seeking but His. He has so much better for us if we would only stop fighting, but listen to Him and love each other as Jesus has told us we should.
Well these are just my thoughts for the moment and you do not have to agree with me or even listen to me, but I pray that you open your hearts and ears to Him and listen to what He is saying.
God bless and keep you in His peace.
emotionalpeace 