Living in discomfort

Love your enemies! Pray for them that persecute you... If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Matthew 5:44,46+47

A minister at our church just finished up a 7-Sunday sermon on Matthew chapter 5.

It

was

so

convicting.

This last sermon was on the last few verses in chapter 5 and I've put the ones that have convicted me the most at the top of the blog post here. Yeah, I've heard all about loving my enemies and praying for those who persecute me. I've always envisioned that as those faceless people who hate Christians who need Jesus just as much as me. Those people I have never met but I am praying for them anyways.

However, this sermon pointed my thoughts in a different direction. It pointed out those unpleasant people in my life. Those people I would just rather avoid because they make me uncomfortable. Or they grate on my nerves just a bit too much. These verses are talking about those people, too.

If there is one thing God has been calling me to over this past year, I feel it is to love the unlovable.


That's not really all that easy to do.

But being in this ministry of Gateway Woods, I am surrounded by those people that grate on my nerves and just plain make me uncomfortable. But after hearing the sermon this past Sunday I was just reminded that that is exactly where God wants me to be. We have had (and currently have) residents that live with us that really know how to push my buttons. It would be my survival mode to just "put up with" some of these individuals and hope they move along quickly. But God has placed them where they are for a reason.

And right now they are living with me.

So, do I just put up with them and hope for the best?

Or do I show them Christ's patience, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Well, if I go back up and read that verse again...I think I have my answer.

Comments

  1. KristyAugust 29, 2011 at 11:19 PM

    Great thoughts, Nichole! Thanks for sharing your heart....I know Paul can be pretty difficult at times, but I really hope things improve quick! hehehe...just kidding!! Honestly, tho, I will be praying for you specifically for patience & love for the "button pushers" in your life :) love ya!

    ReplyDelete
  2. T and MAugust 30, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    i was also convicted about my heart attitude. makes me thankful for the Holy Spirit who is always growing & changing (& convicting) us!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BritniSeptember 5, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    That last sermon of the series really nailed me, too! We are in the perfect environment to sharpen our skills in this area, no? Thanks for the post- I needed it today as we end this run :)

    ReplyDelete

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