This post is borrowed from one of my favorite blogs. I felt it was very timely today.
Taken from "I've Been Thinking: A Weekly Devotional" from pastor and author James MacDonald)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV
Have you got some hurdles to overcome in your family relationships? You know . . . some things that need to change and improve at your house? All of us can at one time or another admit to family problems, causing family pain.
I have just one word to offer you as you seek help and healing for your family: love. Love is relational dynamite that obliterates all obstacles in its path. Talking won't do that for you. Pressuring won't; prodding, insisting, demanding, getting selfish-these all will only tear your life and family apart. But 1 Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never fails" (NKJV).
Love never fails to what? Let me point out three things that it will handle for you:
#1 Love never fails to conquer selfishness. I am selfish and so are you. All of us need help here. You never have to work at self; it's just right there barking for attention. Love conquers the biggest obstacle in me: selfishness.
#2 Love never fails to conquer skepticism. Over time, it's easy to doubt that anything is ever going to change. Your family disappoints you. Someone does something foolish or hurtful and you want to bail out. But love holds on. Love is being used by God to transform that person-even when that person is you.
I wonder if you've read this far and are thinking, James, we've got real problems over at our house and some pep talk on love is not going to fix it.
You're right-that's why 1 Corinthians 13:6 sits in the middle of the passage: "[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."
#3 Love never fails to rejoice in the truth. Love doesn't sit back in some happy delusion that everything will be okay. Love doesn't deny problems, but works to see them changed. Love is an action before it's a feeling.
In love, serve your family when they choose to be selfish.
In love, humble yourself before your family when conflict creates distance. Be the one to go back and say you're sorry. Own your part of the problem. Humble yourself first.
In love, lavish on them words and deeds of kindness and affirmation.
In love, forgive your family by releasing them from the obligation that resulted when they hurt you. Let it go. Don't hold it over them.
And lastly, in love, speak God's Word in any situation regardless of the cost. Truth, delivered with love, is what sets us free. Stand for what's right.
"Love bears all things," says 1 Corinthians 13:7. Love tries again. Love trusts again. Love gives God an opportunity to work. Love is part of the solution. It's a tool in God's hands to work through you in helping your family.
James MacDonald
Senior Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
1 comment:
Good for people to know.
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