Leviticus 19:18
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do
you know someone who is so angry with another person that he/she cannot
be in the same room with them? I am sad to say that I do. I know
people who can barely be civil to each other and speak a few words -
much less share space. I also know people who are so bitter and angry
that they have sought ways to harm another person – mentally and
emotionally, if not physically. The energy and emotion expended by
these folks is exhausting – and sad. And I believe that this breaks
God’s heart.
I count myself blessed to say that I have never been
one to hold a grudge – at least not for very long. I have people with
whom I have established mental and physical boundaries. There are a few
folks with whom I have little contact, because it’s just better that
way for both of us. There are certain situations and events that I
avoid, because I know that they will either offer the opportunity for
conflict – or there is a potential for discussions and actions that
might upset me. But I do not avoid such people or situations out of
judgment or disdain - and certainly not out of anger.
God has
shown me how to handle potentially upsetting and unpleasant people and
situations. Once in a while, such an encounter will be inevitable. But
I have asked Him to guide me…to keep me calm and collected…and to
shield me from any lasting feelings of ill will or displeasure. I have
asked God to give me a heart for forgiveness and compassion toward
others…even those who “rub me the wrong way” in some manner. And while I
am a work in progress, I can say that He has generously granted me
great peace in this area.
Conflicts and difficult folks are an
inevitable part of life. But God wants us to allow Him to handle these
people and situations. He wants us to focus on loving all people – at
all times. He wants us to offer others kindness…to share a smile and a
loving attitude - even when we feel that the person doesn’t deserve it!
I get that this is sometimes hard to accomplish…I truly do. But I can
assure you that when you surrender these feelings to God and allow Him
to handle things, you will experience inexplicable peace and calm. This
may not happen instantly, but God will soothe and settle you.
Don’t
try to take matters into your own hands…and don’t let anger and
resentments fester. Spend some time in prayer and meditation, and ask
God to show you how to control your feelings…and to surround you with
peace and calm as you surrender these people and situations to Him. Ask
God to fill your heart with love and compassion…and let Him handle the
rest. He will do this…are you ready to let Him?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label loving others as we love ourselves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loving others as we love ourselves. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 15, 2014
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Today, the National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated at Ground Zero in New York City. I sat down with Greg to watch the televised ceremony, and it wasn’t long before tears filled my eyes as the stories of that horrific day began to unfold. In particular, the account of 24-year-old Welles Remy Crowther touched me deeply. Dubbed “the man in the red bandana,” Crowther’s story of heroism was shared by President Obama in his remarks to the attendees. He told how Welles, a former volunteer fireman who worked in finance in the south tower, covered his face with a red handkerchief/bandana and guided more than a dozen people to safety before he perished. Crowther’s body was found some six months later in the South Tower Lobby, alongside the bodies of firefighters and emergency workers.
Many of those Welles Crowther rescued knew him only as “the man with the red bandana”, but as his story was shared, Allison Crowther realized that this was her son. Welles had carried a red bandana with him ever since he was a young boy. She knew that this hero who showed such courage, love and compassion was her Welles. A red bandana is displayed in the “9/11 Museum” to remind others of Welles Crowther’s heroism.
Today, Allison Crowther spoke to the crowd in attendance at the memorial, along with Ling Young, one of the women who Welles rescued. In her brief remarks, Crowther noted…”This is life's most precious meaning. It is our greatest hope that when people come here and see Welles' red bandanna, they will remember how people helped each other that day, and we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”
I don’t know much else about Welles Crowther. Aside from a mention on a Wikipedia* page that Welles’ penchant for handkerchiefs came from observing his father, Jefferson, dress for church, we really don’t have a clue about the Crowthers and their faith. But I have to believe that somewhere along the way, they found God…that He strengthened them and guided them through this horrific day and the ones to follow…that they embraced the teachings of Jesus and truly internalized His commands to love God AND to love others. And I believe that Allison and Jefferson Crowther instilled these teachings in their precious son, Welles.
Some will say, “People are innately good. It would be human nature for many of them to have done what this young man did, regardless of whether they knew God or not.” Maybe so. But a whole lot of people would also have rushed to save themselves and adopted the “every man for himself” mentality. The point I wish to emphasize is contained in Allison Crowther’s statement that we will remember how people rushed to help each other that day, and…”we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”
God will not call all of us to save people from a crumbling, burning building. He will not make us heroes…at least not to this magnitude. Few if any of us will not be immortalized for our acts of love and compassion…or have a lasting tribute created on Wikipedia or in a national museum. But our acts of love and care for others…our demonstration of our devotion to God… are no less significant. Their impact is just as powerful and lasting. And the “recognition” we are afforded in the form of eternity at the feet of Almighty God will be the ultimate reward.
Those of us who have truly found God and keep His Holy Spirit in our hearts have the capacity to be “heroes” for Jesus in ways great and small each and every day…to demonstrate the powerful presence of His love, grace, mercy, compassion, healing and forgiveness. We can be the face of God to others. This is our privilege…and our purpose.
I am humbled today by the stories that were shared at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial Museum. I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifices and sufferings of that day…the tests of faith that are beyond what I can comprehend. But I am also reminded of the power of God’s love for His children…and the effectiveness of believers who share that love with one another. I am challenged to harness God’s gifts of strength, power, love and courage in my own situations and circumstances…I am determined to trust Him and walk in His love and care more surely each day.
I am encouraged to know that in ways great and small, I can be one of God’s servants…a “rescuer” of sorts who faithfully “dons a red bandana” and rushes in to help others Jesus’ name. What about you? Will you join me in the mission? Will you answer Jesus’ call to love others as you love yourself…and God? Isn’t it time we focused more on service to Him and less on service of self? Is this the day that you will pry your “red bandana” of God’s love and care from your pocket and put it on as you serve others in Jesus’ name? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welles_Crowther
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Today, the National September 11 Memorial Museum was dedicated at Ground Zero in New York City. I sat down with Greg to watch the televised ceremony, and it wasn’t long before tears filled my eyes as the stories of that horrific day began to unfold. In particular, the account of 24-year-old Welles Remy Crowther touched me deeply. Dubbed “the man in the red bandana,” Crowther’s story of heroism was shared by President Obama in his remarks to the attendees. He told how Welles, a former volunteer fireman who worked in finance in the south tower, covered his face with a red handkerchief/bandana and guided more than a dozen people to safety before he perished. Crowther’s body was found some six months later in the South Tower Lobby, alongside the bodies of firefighters and emergency workers.
Many of those Welles Crowther rescued knew him only as “the man with the red bandana”, but as his story was shared, Allison Crowther realized that this was her son. Welles had carried a red bandana with him ever since he was a young boy. She knew that this hero who showed such courage, love and compassion was her Welles. A red bandana is displayed in the “9/11 Museum” to remind others of Welles Crowther’s heroism.
Today, Allison Crowther spoke to the crowd in attendance at the memorial, along with Ling Young, one of the women who Welles rescued. In her brief remarks, Crowther noted…”This is life's most precious meaning. It is our greatest hope that when people come here and see Welles' red bandanna, they will remember how people helped each other that day, and we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”
I don’t know much else about Welles Crowther. Aside from a mention on a Wikipedia* page that Welles’ penchant for handkerchiefs came from observing his father, Jefferson, dress for church, we really don’t have a clue about the Crowthers and their faith. But I have to believe that somewhere along the way, they found God…that He strengthened them and guided them through this horrific day and the ones to follow…that they embraced the teachings of Jesus and truly internalized His commands to love God AND to love others. And I believe that Allison and Jefferson Crowther instilled these teachings in their precious son, Welles.
Some will say, “People are innately good. It would be human nature for many of them to have done what this young man did, regardless of whether they knew God or not.” Maybe so. But a whole lot of people would also have rushed to save themselves and adopted the “every man for himself” mentality. The point I wish to emphasize is contained in Allison Crowther’s statement that we will remember how people rushed to help each other that day, and…”we hope they will be inspired to do the same in ways both big and small.”
God will not call all of us to save people from a crumbling, burning building. He will not make us heroes…at least not to this magnitude. Few if any of us will not be immortalized for our acts of love and compassion…or have a lasting tribute created on Wikipedia or in a national museum. But our acts of love and care for others…our demonstration of our devotion to God… are no less significant. Their impact is just as powerful and lasting. And the “recognition” we are afforded in the form of eternity at the feet of Almighty God will be the ultimate reward.
Those of us who have truly found God and keep His Holy Spirit in our hearts have the capacity to be “heroes” for Jesus in ways great and small each and every day…to demonstrate the powerful presence of His love, grace, mercy, compassion, healing and forgiveness. We can be the face of God to others. This is our privilege…and our purpose.
I am humbled today by the stories that were shared at the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial Museum. I am reminded of the tremendous sacrifices and sufferings of that day…the tests of faith that are beyond what I can comprehend. But I am also reminded of the power of God’s love for His children…and the effectiveness of believers who share that love with one another. I am challenged to harness God’s gifts of strength, power, love and courage in my own situations and circumstances…I am determined to trust Him and walk in His love and care more surely each day.
I am encouraged to know that in ways great and small, I can be one of God’s servants…a “rescuer” of sorts who faithfully “dons a red bandana” and rushes in to help others Jesus’ name. What about you? Will you join me in the mission? Will you answer Jesus’ call to love others as you love yourself…and God? Isn’t it time we focused more on service to Him and less on service of self? Is this the day that you will pry your “red bandana” of God’s love and care from your pocket and put it on as you serve others in Jesus’ name? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welles_Crowther
Daily Devotional for July 27, 2013
Leviticus 19:18
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I once knew someone who fell in love and gave his girlfriend a beautiful – and very expensive – diamond engagement ring. Then she broke up with him… and kept the ring! He was furious. I’m not talking hundreds of dollars… I’m talking tens of thousands! And he subsequently learned that this was not the first diamond ring that the girl had received… and kept after a breakup! I guess you could say she considered these to be “consolation prizes” of a sort!
Hopefully this has not happened to you – at least not in such an expensive and disappointing fashion. But you very well may have shared your belongings, your money, your time – or even your heart with another person, only to have him/her trample all over your love and generosity in some manner. Perhaps you shared your apartment or home with someone – and they trashed it. Maybe you gave a friend in need an extra twenty dollar bill…and he/she blew it on cigarettes or a video game. Or you showered someone with love and concern – only to learn that he/she had been cursing your name when your back was turned and spreading vicious lies about you to others. How would you react? How would you want to respond?
There is an old adage that says, “Living well is the best revenge.” But what, exactly, constitutes “living well”? If you examine the words of this scripture passage, you find that loving others as much as you love yourself paints this picture with a pretty broad brush! In other words, to have true peace…GOD’s peace… you must be willing to “turn the other cheek” in many situations… to overlook or forgive others’ missteps and mistreatment of you… to stay calm and unfazed in the face of disappointments and exploitations.
In order to truly experience peace in your life, you have to come to a point where you quit trying to please others and focus on pleasing only GOD. You have truly arrived when you can say… “I know I have done the right thing. I can live with myself and what I think… how I feel… my words and actions. How the other guy deals with it is up to him and God.” Sadly, there will be times in all of our lives when we will be cheated, wronged, disappointed, and possibly rejected by others. But GOD will never leave us. If we focus on Him, He will take care of everything else. He is the only One we have to please.
I don’t know if the guy ever got his ring back or not… but he eventually married someone else and moved on with his life. In the scheme of things, the lessons we learn are not about the value of our losses as much as how we handle the experience. When we take ourselves out of the equation… when we stop being angry, don’t try to take revenge, and love others as much as we love ourselves… we give God control of doling out judgment… and we allow Him to fill us with His peace in return. For me, that is the ultimate example of “living well”… what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I once knew someone who fell in love and gave his girlfriend a beautiful – and very expensive – diamond engagement ring. Then she broke up with him… and kept the ring! He was furious. I’m not talking hundreds of dollars… I’m talking tens of thousands! And he subsequently learned that this was not the first diamond ring that the girl had received… and kept after a breakup! I guess you could say she considered these to be “consolation prizes” of a sort!
Hopefully this has not happened to you – at least not in such an expensive and disappointing fashion. But you very well may have shared your belongings, your money, your time – or even your heart with another person, only to have him/her trample all over your love and generosity in some manner. Perhaps you shared your apartment or home with someone – and they trashed it. Maybe you gave a friend in need an extra twenty dollar bill…and he/she blew it on cigarettes or a video game. Or you showered someone with love and concern – only to learn that he/she had been cursing your name when your back was turned and spreading vicious lies about you to others. How would you react? How would you want to respond?
There is an old adage that says, “Living well is the best revenge.” But what, exactly, constitutes “living well”? If you examine the words of this scripture passage, you find that loving others as much as you love yourself paints this picture with a pretty broad brush! In other words, to have true peace…GOD’s peace… you must be willing to “turn the other cheek” in many situations… to overlook or forgive others’ missteps and mistreatment of you… to stay calm and unfazed in the face of disappointments and exploitations.
In order to truly experience peace in your life, you have to come to a point where you quit trying to please others and focus on pleasing only GOD. You have truly arrived when you can say… “I know I have done the right thing. I can live with myself and what I think… how I feel… my words and actions. How the other guy deals with it is up to him and God.” Sadly, there will be times in all of our lives when we will be cheated, wronged, disappointed, and possibly rejected by others. But GOD will never leave us. If we focus on Him, He will take care of everything else. He is the only One we have to please.
I don’t know if the guy ever got his ring back or not… but he eventually married someone else and moved on with his life. In the scheme of things, the lessons we learn are not about the value of our losses as much as how we handle the experience. When we take ourselves out of the equation… when we stop being angry, don’t try to take revenge, and love others as much as we love ourselves… we give God control of doling out judgment… and we allow Him to fill us with His peace in return. For me, that is the ultimate example of “living well”… what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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