1 Peter 3:8 NIV - love one another
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 NIV
Time for some self-evaluation. Where am I at, where do I stand? First and foremost, my standing before a perfect God is one in need; in need of His grace, and the associated forgiveness that comes with it. If I claim to be Christian, this statement has to proceed all others. For without grace, there would be no need for Jesus to show up, no need for God to take on flesh and do what He did. Absence of grace means He lets us languish in our sin and take what we have coming to us.
And so, is there to be any reflection of that grace in me? Any evidence to support my claim to be a follower of Christ?
There should be. One should not have to look far, nor overturn and look under stones. The evidence should be right there, manifest in the way I treat others. That is the biggest piece of evidence. How do I react to the guy who honks his horn and flips me off as he drives by in anger? How am I viewed by the people I work with every day? By my wife and kids?
Go one layer deeper and take a hard look. Do I allow the Holy Spirit to take my thought life captive? He can guide my very thoughts in a way which fosters love, quells anger and negative thought.
Interestingly then, it comes back to Him. Not me. It can be He working within me as I address those around me.
Today will be a good day to let Him work in me as I encounter others.