Articles

 Learning to Love Like Jesus  

By Robin Vickers

"Lord, I am impatient. Lord, this person is driving me crazy; they are so rude and disrespectful. Lord, why can not they just respond with love? Lord, why do they say and do things that are so hurtful?"

Have you ever asked these questions? I know I have. We have all encountered difficult people in our lives, the ones who stretch us and push our buttons.

Our human instinct is to protect ourselves and react in defense. We want to see ourselves as the ones who are fragile, needing to be handled with care. We get offended, feeling that our rights have been violated, and we instinctively focus on self preservation. But the Kingdom perspective is different. Because we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we are not the ones who need protecting; we are the ones empowered to handle others with fragile care.

Handling with Fragile Care

To handle someone with fragile care is to love them in spite of how they treat us. It is an act of supernatural wisdom, acknowledging that God can repair them. Whether they are new in their faith, spiritually immature, or carrying the weight of a difficult background, we must remember that God is at work in them just as He is in us. As Galatians 6:1 reminds us, we are called to restore one another with a spirit of gentleness, always mindful that we, too, are susceptible to temptation. When we handle them with care, we realize that God is helping us in the process. We choose to love them because it gives us the opportunity to please God through our actions.

Breaking Free from the Anger Trap

People will inevitably disappoint, anger, and frustrate us. But we must remember that we are just as capable of frustrating others. Our first instinct in those moments is to react out of hurt, but staying in that anger only hinders our witness and leads to sin. James 1:19 through 1:20 tells us: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

In moments of weakness, we must give the situation to God. We have to talk to Him about it first and not lean on our own understanding. By putting on the full armor of God, we are better equipped to stop reacting and start responding with the wisdom that comes from above. When we yield to the Spirit, we produce His fruit and walk in the peace that passes all understanding.

The Heart of Jesus

Colossians 3:12 through 3:13 gives us the instruction we need: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."

To bear with each other means to stand beside one another and carry the weight. If you have a grievance, you must forgive and let it go so that God remains the focus. I am that fragile package, and because Jesus handles me with fragile care and forgives me daily, I have the strength to love others the same way.

Lord, Plant the Seed and Produce good Fruit in Me

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that helps us develop godly character and virtue as we grow in Christ. It is like a seed planted that grows and blooms into a beautiful reflection of grace. As we mature in the Lord, we gain the knowledge and understanding to know how to be patient, reflecting on the fact that God was patient with us long before we ever learned to be patient with others.

A Call to Kingdom Living

Remember that when dealing with a difficult person, it is an invitation to show fragile care. This is Kingdom living. Let us make disciples, love people, and show patience. It is an invitation and commitment to live like Jesus. This is a beautiful journey we are on together, and every step we take in grace shouts victory for the Kingdom of God!

A Prayer for Patience

Lord, help me to be patient and to reflect You in all that I do. Lord, help me to love people even when they are difficult. May my heart, my words, and my actions always be a reflection of Your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.