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The grim reality is that when I operate in the flesh, people I don't like or care for can lash out a lot, but I reject the hurt because they just don't matter to me. (I just get angry and think about getting even.)

In teaching a Bible study or preaching a sermon, I've had to learn the hard way to not be so quick to make fun of the different opinions of people. I've had to learn to put differences in context of Jesus, His love and grace, and what the Bible says over my opinions or self-importance.

It leads me to four, no five things (this time) that I seem to need to be reminded of:

1. I have to remember to listen to the Holy Spirit.

2. I have to be reminded that the Jesus who forgave Peter for His betrayals, is the same Jesus at work in the heart of the offended believer and me.

3. I have to remember to pray that this person will grow in God's grace, just like I need to. For all I know, there are other issues they are having to deal with [Satan just loves to keep our flesh stirred up using another Christian's flesh].

4. Today, I have to learn to accept the lack of reconcilitation as a burden that Jesus wants to bear with me in His yoke.

5. For tomorrow, I have to give the person time for Christ to work in both of our hearts (and our heads).

1 John 4:7-21 describes God's love within each of us as His child. Our problem is where we place our faith: putting faith in the Lord which produces His love or faith in the flesh which produces imitation love, that is self-serving love God's love apologizes and God's love accepts - on the inside in the new-creature me united with the Spirit. But reconciliation doen't happen until we both live it on the outside.

Your yokefellow in Christ,
Bud

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