GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE

God loves people. That is why He gave His ONLY begotten Son to die for man. And it was while we were yet sinners that God took this ‘risk’. He doesn’t give up easily on anybody…remember how the Spirit wooed you for salvation?

This must mean that there is something God sees in man – even in the worst of us – that makes Him hopeful that the best of us can come out from the worst of us. God does not throw people away just because they are not yet what they should be. His love for us is not based on our merits.

We are often quick to give up on people when they misbehave or fall below our expectations. We often soon become weary of reaching out to the sinner, backslider, new convert, or even the believer who is struggling with a weakness, because it is inconvenient for us. We get too intolerant of each other. We judge people by their actions and ourselves by our intentions. We are impatient with our colleagues and never extend the grace we would want extended to us, to others. However, imagine what would have become of you if the Lord gave up on you before you straightened up? Today the love of God compels us; therefore, we cannot give up on people. We should continue to love, pray and support them till they are firmly rooted in Christ.

Ruth believed in Naomi, even when she looked accursed. Barnabas stuck out his neck for Paul, a former murderer and persecutor. We must understand that the sinner can become a saint, the drunk can become a deacon and the prostitute can become a preacher. The same way we want people to believe in us, be committed to us and see good in us, is the same way God wants us to relate with others. After all, we are all work in progress…so don’t write anybody off, you may be losing a valuable gem in them.

SCRIPTURE PHOTO

+ Pray for patience in relating with others, especially those whose behavior falls below your expectations.

+ Pray for grace to be compelled by the God-kind of love in all situations, and strength to follow through in bringing the lost back to Christ.