1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud…
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Dr.
Randy Hyde, Senior Pastor at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church in Little
Rock, Arkansas, delivered a sermon on July 5, 2015, titled
“Conversations About Freedom.” I encourage you to go to http://www.phbclr.com/members/sermons/sermon/?id=252 and read the message for yourself.
Dr.
Hyde shares an exchange he had with a retired and newly widowed friend
in Baltimore who took a job at Walmart as a greeter. When Hyde returned
for a visit recently, the man expressed to his former pastor that he
was not sure how to relate to the large number of customers who shopped
in his store who were Muslim. It was not that the man felt animosity or
disdain toward these people because of their religious preferences or
ethnicity. But he was at a lost about how to relate to them…and how to
share His Christian faith with them. Dr. Hyde sensed that this quandary
was greatly troubling his friend.
Again, I encourage you to read
the sermon for yourself (it’s fairly brief, but full of good
stuff!)…but Dr. Hyde says that he didn’t have a lot of time to visit
with this man and give him a decent answer. After returning home, he
pulled his thoughts together in the form of this message. Essentially,
the pastor wishes he had told his friend that when people come into
Walmart, they are seeking more than a bottle of shampoo or a bag of
mulch…they are seeking love and acceptance…and the freedom to be who
they are without fear of persecution or intimidation.
Now, you
may think this is a stretch…but consider your own life. As you travel
through your day, how do you react to the words and actions of others?
Can a friendly smile change your attitude? Can one glance or a comment
that you construe as negative or critical ruin your whole morning or
afternoon? Do you ever feel judged just by the way people look at you
and react to you? Does something as basic and simple as a wave and
greeting at Walmart – or the lack thereof - have an impact on your
demeanor?
Too often, we underestimate the power of a loving
gesture. We fail to see the effect that a smile can have on another
person. We take for granted the person who strives to be patient,
humble and speak softly with a tone of grace and acceptance. We
remember people who treat us unkindly, criticize or judge, and speak
negatively. But we also remember those who are loving and
merciful…those who offer words of encouragement and offer positive
“vibes.” We remember people who smile a lot and seem to be filled with
joy most of the time!
Which do you suppose has more of an impact
on others? Which best represents Jesus Christ and His message? Which
draws others in rather than creating a divide? Where would you rather
land in this equation…and where do you think God wants you to be?
Dr.
Hyde concluded his thoughts by saying that “kindness and faith come
from the same Source”…and I believe that we can draw more people to
Jesus with a spirit of love, patience, kindness and humility than we
could ever reach with a thousand sermons or criticisms. It is no small
thing that one of Jesus’ greatest commandments to us is to “love one
another.” A smile and a positive attitude are pretty good places to
start…and in doing so, we represent the love of Jesus Christ.
When
we create an atmosphere where all people feel accepted and free to be
themselves, we are demonstrating our confidence that Jesus was right all
along in how He treated people…and we make room for Him to work
in ways great and small. What does your demeanor say to others about
your Christian faith? Are you a walking – and welcoming – example of
the love of Christ? Don’t you think you should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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