We Belong to Him

Expressing God’s kindness to others.

1) Working with Difficult People

We all have difficult times. Most of these hard times have to do with difficult people. Jesus, for example, suffered because of the jealous leaders around Him. God used His suffering to accomplish a greater good.

Christ trusted God that everything would work out just right. And it did. In the same way we need to trust God that our difficult circumstances are fully under His control. We have a lot to learn so that we can properly respond to these people. We must focus on being like Christ. Notice the attitude below.

Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25).

2) Responding right to Difficult people

When we rightly respond to difficult people, we communicate both God’s wisdom and love. Poor responses are marked by anger, bitterness or jealousy. Instead of liberally showing them God’s kindness, we hold their sin against them. Here are some ways to graciously treat others as God has treated us.

#1 Make a decision.
Decide to always treat people better than they deserve.

#2 Remember God’s love.
God’s love for you never stops. Even if other people poorly treat you, your value doesn’t come from their actions toward you but from God’s eternal kindness in Christ Jesus.

#3 Pray for your enemies.
Pray for your enemies. Never take revenge.

#4 Rejoice in God’s wisdom.
Exert your trust in God by thanking Him on how he will specially care for you in such difficult times. You don’t need lawsuits. You need Him to be your advocate.

#5 Make most of each opportunity.
Consider it your privilege to pass on God’s love on in what would be otherwise a very evil situation.

#6 Don’t budge.
Don’t move from your commitment. It doesn’t matter if it is your friend who betrays you or that you lose your house or job. Loving an enemy is a great miracle of God, and He has chosen you for the task. Do it well for His glory.

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. (1 Peter 2:20).

Application: Make a decision to treat everyone better than they deserve. Consciously think and pray for those that might offend you such as your: spouse, child, parent, friend, colleague or crazy driver. You are going to replicate God’s love towards you in Christ to those who don’t deserve it.

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