More than a curfuffle?

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If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (I John 4:20-21)

Dwight L. Moody reminds us, "Faith makes all things possible... love makes all things easy." Faith and love are intricately related - interwoven aspects of our walk with Jesus. Love for God necessitates love for people - even those we find it hard to relate to, don't actually agree with, or just plain find offensive. Does it mean we have to have a deep relationship with these individuals? No, but it does mean we will treat them with kindness even when they don't deserve it!

Faith makes all things possible - even getting alone with the 'prickly relative', 'bothersome workmate', or 'pesky neighbor'. It even helps us get along with that one person in our church circle that seems to always be butting in where they don't belong, looking to get their own way when options are discussed, or makes a huge deal about the smallest acts they perform 'for the church'. Love requires us going the extra mile on more occasions than we would actually 'like' to, but if we are to grow in Christ, we will love God first, then allow that love to guide all our interactions on this earth.

On earth today, there are hundreds upon thousands of 'conflicts' occurring. Some will be 'minor', such as a 'curfuffle' amongst two people who quickly get over it and move on like nothing happened. Others will be more dramatic, carrying divisive actions that leave deep scars for those involved. We are called to be the voice of reason in a not so pretty world. That may require us to lay down our own agenda at times, but if we are willing to love others as we love Christ, we will find whatever we 'lay down' is nothing in comparison to what is gained when we live as peacemakers in this world. Just sayin!

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