generous love

Several nights a week, my husband and I have a personal pow-wow while lying in bed.  We spend that time discussing things (and people) that have been on our minds and hearts… things that happened throughout the day, how the kids made us proud, how the kids drove us to near insanity, things that have upset us, people who have disappointed us, issues that are bogging our minds (one, in particular, is a daily struggle for me).  It’s just a time for us, with no one else listening, to share our thoughts with each other.  No, we don’t spend all of our time bashing folks – though we feel like doing that sometimes.  But we encourage each other – help each other in our walk.

Last night’s discussion ended with “why can’t we all just get along?”

That would be nice, right?

How many times a day do you think disgusting or hurtful thoughts about someone?  Let’s just be real.  We’re all human and we all have a not-so-nice side.  God didn’t intend for us to “gel” with every single person walking.  He made us all different, and let's face it - sometimes we clash.  We all have “that person” we just really can’t stand to be around.  Or “that person” that drives us up the wall.  Or “that person” that is just too stinkin’ pretty for their own good and they make it a point to let everyone know.

But how many times do we let those thoughts affect our attitudes throughout our daily walk?  How many times do we let our kids hear us make degrading comments or insults about a person, someone who is supposed to be our brother or sister in Christ?

1 Corinthians 10:13 says this: 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it.”

In Isaiah 55:8 the Lord says:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”

So let’s think about this.  He’s already told us that we’re human.  There’s no temptation (or evil thought) that’s uncommon to man.  We all deal with it.  

BUT, he said bring it to me!  Don’t harbor ill feelings; they'll harden your heart.  Just bring them to me.  I’ll help you deal.  I’ll take your trash and turn it into treasure.  

The Lord doesn’t know evil.  His ways are much higher than ours.

BUT, he knows how to squash the enemy (and our bitter attitudes) when necessary.

This is the key…

2 Peter 1:3-8 says this:

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.   For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I don’t know how much more straightforward you can get!  He’s laid it all on the line, given us a way to escape from our troubles, our stress, our worry AND our bad attitudes.  He’s told us exactly what to do with them and what will happen if we hang on to them. 

I may not always be in tip-top shape, but there are two things I definitely do not want to be: ineffective and unproductive.

I also like the way The Message lays it out, and it actually sums up the whole point of this post.

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.”

The New Living Translation calls it “brotherly affection with love for everyone.”

I know a few folks who test my patience, my character, my friendliness, and they make it really hard to love generously.  But that’s what He has called us to do.  And how will our children learn to love generously unless they see us doing it?

So next time those thoughts meander their way into your brain, instead of building on the hurt, the ugliness, the bitterness… take it to Him.  Let him turn your thoughts into ones of basic faith and generous love.