How often have you said or thought to yourself, “well, it’s not my problem.” Sometimes you’re right and you’re observing a healthy boundary, but sometimes you just don’t want to deal with something messy. And, sometimes you’re just being selfish or prideful. Jesus taught us to get in the mess with people. Empathize with them eye to eye. Love them like Jesus and pray with and for them. Jesus was the most important person in all of history and yet, He came down to our eye level

Loving others is not optional, it’s required - even the ones who are difficult to love… especially them! No matter how prickly or sad a person is, Jesus died for them because of His love and compassion. God’s grace is enough for them too - sometimes they just need someone to show unselfish love to them. They might repel that gesture, but make it anyway! Sometimes the most difficult times to do this are with your own family. Maybe you are used to certain kinds of responses, an

Empathy is “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Jesus showed us how to relate to others with empathy - and we are instructed in this verse to BE empathetic. I believe that we are supposed to do this even if we don’t feel it emotionally, at first. I don’t mean to be fake, I mean to choose an empathetic response instead of an apathetic one. Our society is so apathetic it’s scary. I see people who care only about themselves and how situations affect the

#MLK was a prophet of our time. He was killed while I was still little, but his influence and words live on! To understand justice, one must look to the Bible - because in the Bible, “Justice had primarily to do with conduct in relation to others, especially with regard to the rights of others. It is applied to business, where just weights and measures are demanded. It is demanded in courts, where the rights of rich and poor, Israelite and sojourner, are equally to be regarde

Our culture preaches tolerance and acceptance above all else. The Bible teaches us what is right and what is wrong and that there is only one truth… BUT we are to love and serve those who disagree with us. The Bible doesn’t tell us to tolerate or accept their beliefs, but to treat them with respect and compassion. So, are you kind to those who live contrary to God’s law - don’t forget that you’re a sinner under God’s law too… The same grace that God gave to you for salvation

When we are fighting in prayer, or in faith on the battlefield of life, this truth applies. You’re not coming from the losing side. God already won and we’re just playing it out to see where we’ll will stand in the end. So FIGHT! Fight in prayer fiercely for the ones on your heart - no matter how lost they may seem, it’s never too far away for Jesus! Fight for your own freedom from whatever sin the easily entangles you, if you fall, get back up and fight again! Fight for your

How we treat people who don’t believe or agree with us is what attracts them to Christ, or pushes them away. Our job is to be salt and light, to love and show compassion - not to judge or condemn. God reserves that job for Himself. Why do you think the biggest criticism of Christians is that we are hypocrites? “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” John‬ ‭13‬:‭35‬ Theodore Roosevelt said this: “People don't care how much you know unt

Broken people are not hard to find - maybe you’re a little broken yourself. We’ve all been there but some have experienced the healing and wholeness that only Christ can bring. However, just knowing Christ and being saved doesn’t always go deep enough to heal our brokenness. What do you do when you encounter people like this - broken and often prickly people who are hard to love and keep loving? Do you try for a while and then avoid them? Or do you really LOVE them in spite o

Peace is something that all people seek. Deep down they know they are seeking God too, and they’ve invented many replacements for the one True God. Buddhism, Hinduism, and on and on - are all just man-made religions in a search for the peace that only comes from God. This peace requires faith, trust, and love so that you can submit your will to His perfect will for you. This is peace - when you know and act like you know that God will do all that He says and that you are oper

Feelings. Everyone has them. Jesus has them and even God has feelings. But feelings aren’t God! Our feelings center on our own needs and desires - God wants to take care of us, but in the way that is best, not in the way that will satisfy our feelings… because we really do t know what’s best for ourselves. I believe the More time we spend with the Lord, the more in tune our feelings get with His will. The more likely He will work in and through us to help others. More of our

God has never been repulsed by our sin, but when He opens they eyes of our hearts we are. It’s because we get a glimpse of the depths of Gods goodness and holiness and we are sickened by our own sin. That’s one of the ways we know that God has transformed us - because our hearts are not hardened anymore. Our new hearts can be a conduit for the love and grace of Jesus to work in and through us, for the Holy Spirit to lead us and for us to pour out our worship to our Father God

You leave a trail behind you wherever you go… a trail of your words and actions. They’re either kind and edifying, or they’re not. They either build up or tear down. This is happening whether you’re aware of it or not. I bet each of you can think of a time when someone said or did something that made a huge difference to you, and that you’ll never forget. But it wasn’t a big thing or a grand gesture- it was just what you needed when you needed it. God has planned encounters f

There is no meaning and purpose for us outside of what God meant and purposes. We are spiritual beings meant for relationship with Him and with each other according to His plan. Why does it have to be God’s way? Because His way is perfect and ours isn’t! “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭ESV‬ When we follow The Lord our lives become fulfilled and fulfilling. We love other as He requir

Our anger is not a fruit of the Spirit. Yes, we all have to deal with it, but we don’t have the right to make anyone else deal with it. Even when someone’s actions raise an angry reaction in us, we don’t have the right to blame them for our reactions. We have the command to forgive them - to extend grace to them. It’s really that simple. Our job is to love and forgive - God does all the judgment. #dontjudge #loveoneanother #forgive #shalom #yourjourneytobeingwhole #dailydevot

Most people are familiar with this passage from 1st Corinthians, even nonbelievers. Another thing that most people believe is that the opposite of love is hate. I think that the opposite of live is really selfishness. Love is all about someone else - being patient, kind, humble and honoring towards them. Love is a powerful force that has the other person’s back and never gives up. In fact, Jesus said that nonbelievers would judge Christians by the way they lived others… #love

The most important thing for us to do is love God and love other people. Most of the time, it seems easier to love God than people - but when you’re going through stuff and things, it can be more challenging to trust Him. Sometimes we question how He could allow certain things to happen if He really loves us. This is natural, but it’s also where our faith needs to take over and worship Him. Loving other people is much harder. Sure it’s easy to love some people most of the tim

When you know Jesus, you know THE way, THE truth and THE life. you understand in your heart that there is only one truth and it’s what God says, not people… and you have a desire and an obligation to share it with others. But, you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it that matters” right? This is truth! When you share the truth with others and come across as judgmental, you’ve lost their hearts AND you’ve sinned against them and God. We are called t

God has healed me of so much! Praise His holy name! He has healed me physically, miraculously, and He has healed my heart in the deepest ways possible. This healing wasn’t quick, it was slow - just as a a physical wound takes time to heal. As He did His work in me, I had to stop ripping out the stitches by trying to go back to what He was healing me from. Often it is true that we’re our own worst enemy. I knew I was truly healed when I could look back on the pain or the situa

If you hate someone, you’re not just turning away from God and telling Jesus to take a hike, you’re blinded by darkness. Blinded! That’s what God says, not me. This applies to people who’ve done you wrong and hurt you. It also applies to prejudice and racism. If you hate someone God created, He takes it personally. He tells us to love one another the way He love us, and the way that we love ourselves - even our enemies. This kind of forgiveness is only possible through the Ho

The Golden Rule is always the right choice. There is never a time when we aren’t called to respond in love for our neighbors or to show love for our neighbors. Of course, our “neighbors” includes all the people we come into contact with. How often do you show them appreciation and say thank you or let them go first? I think Mr. Rogers is right - it is holy to love others as Christ loves us and, after all, we are called to be holy as He is holy. #loveoneanother #beholyforheish