WHAT YOU DONT KNOW Adapted from a Daily Devotional by Pastor Beth Jones Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person…. 1 Corinthians 13:7, AMP Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person. If we are going to love people—although they may mistreat us, speak hurtful things to us, and behave in strange— we are going to have to believe the best! Why? Because, as the old adage goes: hurting people, hurt people. What we dont know is the reason someone speaks, acts or behaves in such mean-spirited, dysfunctional, bizarre ways is because they are hurting. What we dont know is… ...they were abused by someone they trusted as a child. ...they were just diagnosed with a terrible disease. ...they are filled with shame and guilt. ...they are scared. ...they lost their job. ...they were just served divorce papers. ...they just lost a loved one. ...they are in pain. ...theyve been ripped off. ...theyve been overlooked. ...they have no hope. ...they feel rejected. ...theyve never been loved. ...they hate themselves. These things dont excuse bad behavior; they just help us understand what motivates people to inflict such hurt on others. And, in a strange sort of way, knowing these things helps us walk in love—the kind of love that believes the best. ....People can make all kinds of wacky comments. Or maybe you get emails, opinions, and complaints from people. Most of the time, we have no idea .....why they have an axe to grind, but when we separate ourselves from their comments— the Lord helps us see what we didnt know. When we realize that hurting people hurt people— we can actually feel sorrow, pity and compassion for such people. The Lord helps us to believe the best about them because we know that if they really knew the Lord, if they really knew us, if they really knew our hearts—theyd never behave or say the crazy things they do. Their behavior is sadly symptomatic of the bigger issues and pain they are experiencing in their own lives. Today, if youve been on the receiving end of some hurtful things or the brunt of a mean-spirited attack—while its not always easy— ask the Lord to help you see what you dont know... so that you can look beyond the behavior, actions or comments and walk in love to believe the best, anyway. Prayer: Father, I pray for those who have hurt me. There must be some things I dont know, so I choose to walk in love toward them. Although I may not like them very much and although I may not want any further contact with them, I can love them enough to believe the best and pray for their souls...today. So, I lift up ________________ (insert name) to You and I pray that You minister to them and fill in the gaps of hurt and pain in their lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person.... Blessings,
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 13:55:58 +0000
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