Have you ever had one of those days where it seems like everyone you encounter is mad at you for some reason? Or maybe you got cut off by someone on the freeway? Or maybe stopping for a school bus is making you even more late for that meeting with your boss... What ever it is, something is irking you today... What is the best thing we could do in these situations?
Scriptures for this week:
Romans 12:14, "Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them." (NLT)
If someone cuts you off, instead of swearing or screaming at them choose to bless them.
Matthew 5:44, "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" (NLT)
Pray for someone who continually bugs you, or never has anything good to say about you (or anybody else).
1 Corinthians 4:12-13a, "We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13We appeal gently when evil things are said about us." (NLT)
This is what Paul was doing. We should follow his example.
Luke 6:27-31; 35-36, “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31Do to others as you would like them to do to you... ...35Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." (NLT)
We don't know other people's stories or backgrounds. We may never know why they do the things that they do, but we can choose to not let them have a negative effect on us. These verses in Luke 6 are right from Jesus's mouth. He spoke them. We should desire to live like Jesus and follow His example.
My Story:
On the way to work the other day I pulled out in front of someone. They were going faster than the speed limit, so they approached me faster than I anticipated. (Or I never would have pulled out in the first place.) First this person laid on the horn, and road my bumper all the way to the light. Unfortunately they were going the same direction I was, so they were still behind me while I was sitting at the stop light. After turning (onto a two lane road), this car road up beside me and honked again while making hand gestures out the rolled down window. (I tried to not pay attention to the driver.) Then they pulled in front of me in the lane I was driving in. After turning onto the same street as this driver, I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. After all, I was always going the correct speed limit, and I didn't mean to slow them down. A little farther down the road this vehicle pulled off to the left and just sat there. (I was starting to get a little worried... After-all what in the world were they going to do?) As I drove by their position they honked again and flashed their lights at me before turning down that road to wherever they were headed.
So what was the point of this story? Well, I began to pray for this person while continuing on to work. I will probably never see that car again, but I honestly hope that their day went better than it started. Can you imagine being so angry with your life that you get aggravated that a car pulled out in-front of you, and it ruined your day? Was it worth it? What could you do to make the situation better? Have you been in either of these positions? (Mine or the other driver's) What could I have done to make my situation better? What could this other driver have done? I pray that you will be able to bless and not curse others for things that they do, whether it is big or small. God loves them just as much as He loves you. You never know what good could come of a simple prayer instead of an impatient horn blast!
Blessings,
~ S*
Girlbiblestudy@hotmail.com
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