But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11
I remember watching this movie called The Nun.
All the nuns in training were sitting in a group, talking about humility.
The Nun, the star of the movie said,
“I work so hard to be humble and I think I have finally gotten there to true humility
and then I realize I’m being proud about being humble.”
Pride is one of Satan’s greatest weapons.
That was his main issue.
He thought he was greater than God, who created him.
He still doesn’t understand that Our Creator will always be greater than any of us, including him.
The thoughts of pride sneak in.
Maybe we’re thinking about how we need to pray for someone
because of their faults and then, somewhere in there,
the thought of pride and how we think we are closer to God
or they need to do this or they should’ve done that and we have taken the bait.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8
He is ready to pounce and take over.
He will fill us with his lies of grandeur and promises
of what wonderful things we will accomplish because we are so great.
This is the same way he enticed Adam and Eve, that they could be like God,
so wise and so filled with knowledge. Same ol’ Same ol’.
It keeps working for him.
People keep falling for it.
Our world is filled with people who are so impressed with themselves,
both those who claim to know God and those who don’t.
It never seems to end.
One day, it will be a hard fall for those who chose to walk in their own goodness.
They will see that all along there was always One greater than themselves.
There are two relatives I know.
They each have valid reasons in their own minds
as to why they know better than the other.
They are hurting each other.
One is more right in my estimation, but still,
darkness and hatred are working now in their hearts.
I have seen unforgiveness creeping in, and name-calling.
Which reminds me of Jesus’ warning of name-calling.
The name-calling seems to carry with it hatred, judgment, unforgiveness,
and the like
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause
shall be in danger of the judgment:
and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,
shall be in danger of the council:
but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22
If you have a cause, does that change anything?
So many questions for God.
If we listen to His spirit, He will help us.
If we ask for wisdom, He will share that with us.
If we are weak in following His commandments that we know He requires of us.,
you know, the ones about loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength
and loving our neighbor as ourself?
Fix the breaches in our armor.
First and foremost, keep His love in your heart, keep it warm,
keep it on fire for Him and your fellow human.
Conflicts need a resolution.
Even if the resolution starts in your heart.
Without love and forgiveness, what good can we do for God?
Nobody really deserves forgiveness. Not even us.
It is the mercy of God that teaches us to love others as He has loved us,
to love others like we would love Jesus if He were here with us.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
I once had a friend who did something not good to me.
I told the Lord how I was feeling.
This is what He said to me, Love her anyway.
He didn’t say what she did wasn’t wrong.
He never said I’m going to deal with her, maybe more what I wanted to hear.
Nope, none of those words I wanted to hear.
He said, Love her anyway.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
Jesus knows all.
He will deal with people and He will deal with us.
He expects us to be kind in spite of what they do or say or how they treat us.
He implores us to love them, even when they don’t deserve it.
Jesus’ hope for us is that we can best exemplify Him in our lives
in loving others and in extending forgiveness anyway, no matter what they do.
Scriptural References:
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:12
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;
and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:
for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luke 6:35