Love and Humility

Humility isn't thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.

Above all, love each other deeply, 

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV

 

Girlfriends, Good Morning from my new home in northern Virginia!

Ladies, the Christmas season is directly upon us. Enjoy every moment of wonder and awe, looking and seeing through the eyes of your inner child. Your perspective will certainly change, especially in regard to the people around you this December!

I recently completed a study of 1 Peter. Yesterday morning, I sat down at the kitchen table and reread the entire book aloud to my dog, Oreo. (She was mesmerized by every word rolling off my tongue. I could tell by how loud she was snoring!) I, on the other hand, was intrigued by the numerous verses instructing us on how to treat one another. "God's perfect timing and direction," I thought, since we are in the season of hustle, bustle, and fight tooth and nail for every parking spot and position in the check-out line.

In this epistle, the apostle Peter is writing to believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire who are suffering persecution for their belief in Christ. How appropriate is it then that he desires for them to be in unity and love with one another? Peter knows that the outside world is cruel enough; why should we also torture one another with hateful and hurtful words and actions? Believers who are born again in Christ are family, and who should love you the most and care the deepest but your family? Yet God knows, and expresses through Peter's writing, that family can often be very cruel to one another, out of jealousy, pride, and insecurity. Hence his deluge of directions regarding our treatment of one another and how to "love...with all your heart."

Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. As the scripture says, "All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1 :22-25 GNT

What a wonderful word picture God paints: we are like the brown grass marking my front lawn right now; like the wilting carnations in the vase on my kitchen table. Ladies, we will not last long on this earth, but God's Word stands and so too will the legacy we leave behind. Future family gatherings and traditions will be affected by the love, or hate, we show one another right now. Our children will pass on to future generations not only the stories of Christmas past, but also the behaviors they imitate from us. Will tolerance and respect prevail around the festive feasts of the future? Will charity, generosity, and good will flow from the fingertips and pocketbooks of our grandchildren because we joyfully and willingly gave to the needy of our day?

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Remember my suggestion earlier: see Christmas through the eyes of your inner child and change your perspective? God also commands us change our appetite back to that of our infancy, to crave spiritual milk (which I hear goes well with frosted sugar cookies and gingerbread men!) Girlfriends, nourish your soul with God's Word and grow into women full of love for His people and His creation.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3: 8-9

My husband texts our children a Quote of the Day every morning. (And since we are on eastern time and he leaves for work at 5:30 am, you know they so dearly appreciate the wake up call, especially the child living in California!) Today's quote stuck with me as I prepared to write this blog:

"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength." Eric Hoffer  

I do not know who is Eric Hoffer (and since I typed that you know I have to take a break and Google it) but I know his statement rings with truth. Jesus taught that the weak will be strong, that the humble will inherit the earth. So why is it so easy for some people to be rude? Why is it so difficult to "be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves."? Philippians 2:3 GNT 

I believe the most likely answer is pride. Consciously or not, we often do consider ourselves better than some others, and we do not hesitate to say so or show it. But the instruction from God in Philippians 2:3 is "to consider; to count; to value" others better than yourself, depending upon the translation you read. All of these words imply a choice; yes, we have a choice to place others first and to humble ourselves before the Lord. We may find it extremely challenging to humble ourselves before certain annoying people; however, humbling ourselves before the Lord, or for the Lord, shifts the focus and eases the difficulty. Girlfriends, what choice will you make this Christmas season?

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV

Ladies, I pray you will truly find joy and peace emanating from placing others first: whether on the highways, in the shopping malls, from the giving trees, around your neighborhoods, or during the family feasts and celebrations. May the Lord empower you, softening your heart and strengthening your will (and ability to hold your tongue.) Love and forgive one another as God loves and forgives you.

Girlfriends, I love you, each and every one.

Happy Holidays!!!!