Dear Ones,

Hope you have a love-filled day. Al has Men’s Group this morning and I have Exercise class and Crafts and will be packing the car for our trip tomorrow.

Devotions from Judy’s heart,

Why do we expect everyone to love us and think well of us? Jesus lived a perfect life and yet had many people who hated him, although He had never done a single wrong. Today we may find some people don’t approve of us simply because we have views that differ from theirs. But as followers of the Lord, let it not be said of us that we fail to accept others or show His love to them. For the Lord died for us when we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8)
Acceptance of others doesn’t necessarily mean that we invite them over and spend a lot of time with them, but it may be giving them a smile, a compliment, forgiving them, sharing something with them, etc. Everyone wants to be affirmed, and God wants to use each of us to share with others His love and acceptance. If we are honest, we also want that from others, so why do we let our differences block that channel?

Romans 12:16 says that we are to live in harmony with one another and not be haughty or exclusive, but humble. Haven’t we said and done things for which we are sorry afterwards and we wonder, “How could I have done that? I wasn’t thinking! I was prideful!” We also won’t always get our way and need to adjust, putting Jesus first, others second and ourself last. Being a Christ follower is life of self-sacrifice to do what the Lord asks of us, but not always what the other person wants us to do. Let us ask ourselves: how would Jesus treat them? What would He say? What would he do?

Challenge for today: Accept others and ask the Lord how He can show love through you!

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy