I’ve recently been doing a new bible study with the ladies at our church. It’s called “The Frazzled Female”. As I was doing today’s devotional I came across this sentence.
"Building others up with blessings is more than being tolerant of others; it’s loving the way Jesus loved."
Did you get that? Read it again! How often do I think I’m doing good just by putting up with someone. I’m really challenged by this statement. How difficult it is for me to keep my mouth shut at times when I grow impatient with someone. I really feel justified in my impatience and wasn’t I just so godly that I didn’t say a word to them.
Romans 12:9,10 and 14 says-
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Verse 9 says, “Don’t just pretend”, and verse 14 says, “Bless”, that's right “bless those that persecute you and pray that God will bless them”. Oh, sometimes I’ll do that. I’ll send a pop-up prayer asking the Lord to bless them, BUT ME BLESS THEM? Hey, I didn’t blast them or give them a piece of my mind right? Isn’t that blessing them?
What does bless mean? Merriam Webster defines bless as…
1. To hollow or consecrate
2. To invoke divine care for
3. To confer happiness or prosperity upon
Hmmm, I think that is definitely more than just putting up with someone. More than just keeping your mouth shut and not giving them a piece of your mind. Wow, I am really falling short here of what God’s idea of blessing someone is. Praise God for grace and mercy. In my weakness He is strong. If you’re there with me, then let’s pray the Lord help us this year to really bless those around us. To show them the love of Jesus and not just our tolerance.
Lord, thank you for opening my eyes this morning. For helping me to see how to really build up those around me. To love them with Your Love. For revealing to me this new area in my life which you desire to see growth in. I pray Lord that I not only produce good fruit, but that my fruit remains wherever I go. I pray Holy Spirit that you will prompt me whenever I begin to just tolerate someone, to immediately find a way to bless them instead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings,
Mara
