APRIL 25, 2013
Tough
To Love
Read: Job 42:10-17
The Lord blessed the
latter days of Job more than his beginning. —Job 42:12
Years
ago I was a camp counselor for some rebellious boys. I found it challenging
to
deal with their behavior. They would mistreat the animals at the petting zoo
and
occasionally fight among themselves. So I adopted a calm and firm approach
to
leading them. And although they often exasperated me, I always made sure
their
physical needs were taken care of.
Even
though I had a kind and loving exterior, I often felt on the inside that I was
just “putting up with them.” That caused me to prayerfully reflect on how a
loving
heavenly Father provides for His rebellious children. In telling the
story of the
Israelites during the exodus, Paul said, “For a time of about
forty years [God] put
up with their ways in the wilderness” (Acts 13:18). In
Greek “put up with” most
likely means to patiently provide for people’s needs
despite an ungrateful response.
Some
people may not react favorably to our efforts to show care and concern.
When
this happens, it may help to remember that God is patient with us. And He
has
given us His Spirit to help us respond with love to those who are hard to love
or who are ungrateful (Gal. 5:22-23).
Give
us Your patience, Lord, for anyone in our lives who is difficult to love.
I want the love that sweetly bears
Whate’er my Father’s hand may choose to send;
I want the love that patiently endures
The wrongs that come from enemy or friend. —Anon.
Be as patient with others as God has been with you.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
