Show the Love!

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:23-25

I love our church.  I love the people of our church.  Our church is more than just a church, it is a family.  I love seeing what God is doing through our church - His people.  And  God is doing some pretty amazing things through this body of believers.  We experience life - together.  We meet together.  Worship together.  Pray one for another.  Pray over each other's children.  Stand by one another through good and bad.  We do our best to encourage one another and show patience one for another.

Even so, we are not perfect.  We are still human and prone to making mistakes.  I for one am not perfect in any way, shape, or form.  Therefore, since we are imperfect ourselves, we must be be patient with one another.  Forgiving of one another. Not discontinue meeting simply because someone made a mistake or because we think someone wronged us. 

At the same time, though, we are to have an attitude of love for others -especially those who are in the family of faith.  We are to have compassion and do good works, not for our own credit or glory - but for His glory and honor.  We are to show love first and foremost to God and for our neighbor.  But at times, we need to check our attitudes towards others.  Sometimes we place more importance on the tasks at hand than loving the people.  It is in those moments that we loose sight of the true mission of the church, spreading the Gospel and loving others, that damage is done. 

And if you are wondering what I am referring to, it's this - I lost my patience this morning with two of my children at church.  I was wrong.  I didn't show compassion and love, but I should have.  I hurt my children who were just trying to help me.  Then someone lost patience with my daughter and fussed at her over something minor.  These two incidents combined affected her very deeply.  She is a good, godly girl - even though she isn't perfect.  I should have been more patient and forgiving.  The other person should have also.  And though this is first and only time anyone has fussed at her at church (or school for that matter), Britt's experience this morning wasn't positive.  It hindered her worship.  It hindered her heart from receiving all that God meant for her to hear.  It hurt her to the point of tears.  It embarrassed her in front of her friends.  I didn't mean to hurt her or my son and I'm sure the person didn't mean to, either.  They could've been having a bad day as well and should be afforded forgiveness too.   But these experiences combined wounded Britt's precious heart.  In her words, "Today has been a bad day."  And that shouldn't be the way anyone should feel after church.  It was my fault. 

So what's the point?  We need to show patience, compassion, and love for others - most especially for our family and those who come walking through our church doors.  What if Britt was an unbeliever?  Then her mother's own words could have turned her away from hearing God's Truth this morning.  Then the person who fussed at her over a minor fau paux could have turned a young person off to our church or even Christ - potentially FOREVER.  Our actions, good or bad, can have an ETERNAL impact not just on us, but others as well!  The impact could be eternally positive or eternally negative!

We have to check our attitudes.  Yes, it's hard to always be 'on' for Christ, but people, reaching out to the lost and to seekers is just way to important!  Winning family to Christ is even harder - we have to LIVE IT in front of our children!  We preach the importance of reaching people, especially young people for Jesus Christ, and then we, their parents, grandparents, and church family fuss at them over some pretty silly stuff.  And that turns them off faster than anything else!  Where's the love in that?  I'm not talking about disciplining our children.  What  I am talking about is showing authentic love that doesn't sweat the small stuff!  I'm talking about approaching others with the right attitude of love!  Praise God, members of our church family do show authentic love to one another and that really shows among each other and to the community.  So lets keep on in these good works.  And, if you feel that you don't have patience and love with your family, friends, and others, maybe it's time to take a time out and ask God to help you in that area.  I have to do this at times myself - even today!

Here's the bottom line, if we can't show love, patience, and compassion for the loveable, then how can we love the unloveable?  Christ commands us to 'love our neighbors,' the loveable and the unloveable.  Think about it.

I've asked for my children's forgiveness this morning.  I'm praying for God to help me be more patient, loving, and compassionate so that I don't offend or hurt others.  I don't want to be the reason that anyone turns away from Christ.  I don't want to be the one who hinders anyone's worship or church experience - not even my children's.  We all loose it sometimes and make mistakes.  But when we do, we can seek forgiveness from God and from the person.  We shouldn't be to proud to admit our mistakes, even to our children, and ask for their forgiveness when we mess up.  Let's patiently love one another, continuing in good works!  Grace and peace, friends!

In His Love, Cathy