The 'Difficult Love'

‎Wednesday, ‎April ‎14, ‎2021

Verse of the Day: Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." —1 Samuel 3:10

Memory of the month:  And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" —Luke 24:32

Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 25-26 LUKE 12:32-59

The 'Difficult' Love

Do you know someone who is really, really difficult to be around? They are out there. They are harsh and judgemental and are brutally honest yet they go on for years and seem to never change but somehow make it through life day by day.

Some reach high places stepping on everyone else's shoulders to get there. Some are simply maintaining and getting by. They are, however, the people we least want to be around. They don't have many close friends and most of them are desperately lonely.

This is about loving our neighbors-the really difficult ones. How do we love them the way God wants us to? God has placed them in our path for a reason. Look at them and define the reason or reasons.

First, we are to love them the way God loves us. We are not to judge them. We are to put up with them-that is what 'forbear' means.

"Love your neighbor the way you love yourself." Matthew 22

Matthew 7:1 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. 2 If you judge others, you will be judged the same way you judge them. God will treat you the same way you treat others.

3 “Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood that is in your own?

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Galatians 6:2 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.…

This sends a clear message. God's love is equal for all and we are to be as much like Him in dealing with others as we can become and do it in His power. This means we can love anyone-anyone on earth-even the ones we think are too surly and harsh and mean. We are to be conformed into the image of Jesus.

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

There are some who will not read this whole thing because it is just too aggravating to hear another 'love the unlovable' thing. But this is not just for those. This is for me and you-all of us.

I use a word that is antiquated-'long-suffering'.

The King James Bible says it like this:

2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(ESV-2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.)

Ephesians 4:2 - With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

(ESV-Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,)

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, (patience)longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

All this is to say that we must learn to 'long-suffer' the difficult people because God 'long-suffers' each of us the same way. His patience with us is endless.

God never sleeps. But when we wake up, His mercy and grace for us is so perfect that it is new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 English Standard Version

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

23 they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

Pray to be merciful the way God is to you. Pray to be patient with others the way God is with you. Pray to be found faithful to Him in all ways.

1 Corinthians 4:2 1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for not seeking to be patient, merciful, and faithful like You. Teach me great Father.

Merciful and patient God of all,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen