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| TBT - Be Nice |
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You Can Listen Online! TodaysBibleTreasure.com now has audio. Visit today for more!
August 13, 2008
BE NICE
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ~Luke 6:27-28
Growing up with my great-grandmother I heard many cliché’s, one of which was “you will catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. I had a hot temper and a mean streak, so I wondered what does that mean? It means to be nice to those who are not nice to you. I understood the concept well enough, but applying it was a different story. I also grew up hearing the golden rule “treat others as you would like to be treated”, which made more sense to me. But it wasn’t until after I met Jesus and began studying His word that I realized that both sayings had a biblical background, maybe not word for word, but definitely in concept. Being nice to those who mistreat you should not be hard, and yet it is because our natural inclination as humans is to get angry. When we treat others with kindness and gentleness we will reap that in return. We may not see it right away, but we will see it. It takes time and effort, patience and endurance to cultivate a right heart and right responses to others. But with Jesus in our hearts, we know that we can do this, it’s possible because He has commanded us to. Can you imagine how the world would be if everyone responded nicely to those who have mistreated them?
We all have that person or persons that rubs us the wrong way and that knows how to push our buttons before we even are in the same room together. We all are faced with situations from time to time where complete strangers are abnormally angry about something and tend to make that known to others around them. We all have moments where we have reacted to something or someone harshly and have been responded to with kindness. Take today to start something different. Make a conscious effort today to stop and think before reacting. Jesus said to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you. He said it, we need to do it. When we do as Jesus commanded and love our enemies, the love we show takes the place of any bitterness and anger that could begin to fester and take root towards the enemy, and frees us from that bondage. It sets the stage and makes showing the light of Christ and being the salt easier. It also diffuses any additional conflict because we have shown humility by our kindness. So, start today! Be nice, even when you don’t feel like it.
Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, You are love and You love all the earth. Your rain falls on the just and the unjust, Your sun shines on the saint and the sinner, Your mercy is abundant and Your grace is everflowing. Thank You for the blessing of another day for we have been given another chance to bring Your love, mercy and grace to those who we don’t get along with. You have given us another day to forgive those that have wronged us, to serve and do good to those who hate us, to bless those that curse us, and to pray for those that use us. Help us to curb our reactions and to exhibit gentleness, kindness, patience and humility to difficult people and adverse situations. Grant us opportunities to serve our enemies with love and grace, allowing for Your glory, Your light and Your love to touch them and minister to them. We thank You for these opportunities, we thank You for Your word and knowing that we don’t have to do this alone, that You are alongside us teaching and encouraging us to grow more like You. We give You all glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Additional Scriptures: Luke 6:31, 35-36; Proverbs 15:1
In Christ’s Service,
Prudence Ramos
Prudence Ramos, Today’s Bible Treasure Devotionals Ó 2007-2008 www.todaysbibletreasure.comScripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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| You had a hot temper and a mean streak? Now I don't believe that!!!! This a great word for anyday Prudence! Thank You Father for the Holy Spirit in which to help us!! |
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| I understand you "nice" comment Pru, but I'd like to also add - being truthful. My defination of being "nice" is Neurotic, Insecure, and Completely Emotional. |
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