This is where grace has to enter the picture if we're going to do the whole "Love thy neighbor" thing. We have to show love and mercy even when we don't think others deserve it. For one thing, we don't know their hearts and motivations enough to know why they do what they do. We don't always know the struggles they're dealing with in their lives that cause them to act in ways we don't approve. We don't always see people for who they really are. Sinners. Imperfect people. People just-like-us who need grace. We're not perfect and we expect grace from others when we screw up. We don't just expect grace, we need grace. We need it from God and we need it from others. But we have to give it, as well.
Check out this tweet from earlier today:
Nothing is more humbling to me than the daily grace and mercy of God.
That's the truth of the matter. The amount of grace and mercy God gives me is profoundly huge. I can't help but be humbled when I think about it. The problem is that I need to re-train my mind to think about others in the light of God's grace for me. It's a lot harder to judge, be mad, be frustrated, be disappointed, or whatever you're feeling when you're coming from a place of humility. And don't we want to be in a position of humility?
James 4:6b-8a
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
God, help us to be humbled by your marvelous grace so that we can freely give grace to others.
Feel free to comment with your own thoughts and questions!
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