How Can You Still Serve Under Pressure
Unforgiveness, bitterness, and disdain for others are a few things that can make the ability to serve people, one of the most difficult things in our day-to-day lives!How wrong would it be to dislike someone so much, that you choose not to serve them at any capacity? As humans, we come to assumptions that often cause us to react in the worst way possible. Someone cuts you off in traffic, instead of praying they make it safely to their destination, not knowing what could be clouding their mind in that moment, we flip them the bird and hope they get a ticket. If someone does not hold the door open for you walking into a coffee shop, we get upset and assume they are a rude person. When maybe they have just received terrible news and they are not thinking straight.We choose not to buy that person a cup of coffee, we choose not to just let the other driver go on their way without showing them a gesture of disdain first. Our honking horn may be the last thing they need in that moment, but our disdain for the situation causes us to show them our emotions rather than our God centered heart for others. What kind of child of God would we be if we were to choose not to love others?
“So now I’m giving you a new commandment, love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34 NLT
What kind of example or disciple would we be if all we did was leave those we dislike in the wake of the world behind us, with no way out or refuge from the storm we created? We create storms from situations that could have easily been dismissed, if we were to set our pride aside.Let’s think how situations really impact us and how our reactions impact others, before going off on anyone about anything.
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” - John 15:12-13 NLT
This doesn’t mean we must all die physically. However, spiritually and mentally, our pride must die, our ill-will must die, our selfish desire must die. Humility in love will conquer all the world has to offer; to serve with love is a beautiful representation of selflessness and the perfect example Jesus sets for us.
Related Post: Do Something for Someone that Cannot Return the Favor
If you should strive to do anything this week, I challenge you to serve your friends and family. Even serve those you may not be the fondest of. Serve them with love like our Savior served us.We would be ignorant to think we will always agree with people and people will always agree with us. There will be times where we will disagree with our closest of friends and those we don’t truly know. This is where we learn it is not always about what happens, but how we respond to what has happened. How you make someone feel will stick with them longer than any words you say.I challenge you to join me in dismissing any habits or behaviors that do not show love to those around you. Let us serve with love in the coming weeks, let us treat others as we wish to be treated. A close friend reminded me, "we may not always like what others do, however, we are still called to love them."