This chapter is absolutely loaded with incredible teaching. Our lives and relationships would be completely turned around if we focused on living out just this one chapter! I want to highlight a couple of things that jumped out at me from these few verses:
1. The verse says that we are to get along with everyone, "AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU." Here's two simple ideas... when there is a problem you and another person, there's a good chance that you both share some of the blame. However, even though you may both be at fault, YOU can only change YOU. While you can let the other person know how you would like to see them change, YOU can't actually change them, nor can you let your decision to change hinge on their decision to change. What in the world am I trying to say? If you're in a difficult situation with someone, focus on what YOU can change, and don't let it depend on them. Maybe you feel like your parents are "picking on you," but you've also had a bit of an attitude lately... The only thing you can change is YOU. Work on your attitude, whether or not your parents work on how they treat you. Don't let your parents' failure to change be an excuse for your failure to change. I know this can be hard... Really hard. But the amazing thing is, that if you focus on the changes YOU can make, other people often follow your lead.
2. "Don't be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." So I was reading a couple of commentaries (the stuff scholars write about these verses), and this is a pretty powerful verse. Basically the first part of the verse says, don't hold on to the hurt and become the very thing you hate. The second part of the verse explains how we are to overcome those feelings of bitterness, anger, and hurt... "with good." The verses before it say that we are to be kind and helpful to our enemies, and we'll win them over ... kind of like the expression, "Kill them with kindness." It's hard for a person to stay mad at you or continue to treat you poorly when you are being kind to them.
K, those are just a couple of thoughts. Now for a couple of questions:
- Is there anyone you're not getting along with right now? Without waiting for them to change, what is something you could change?
- How can you show kindness to someone you are not getting along with? What if you are kind to them and they don't change- is it still worth it?
That's all for now. See you tonight!
We love you. We're here for you.
Pastor Courtney
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