Love and Paitence

2 Timothy 4: 2

 

²Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

 

 

How should we encourage, and rebuke? With great patience and careful instruction. Sitting in judgment, damming people to hell, telling people that they will get anything their heart desires….these are reckless ways to profess the Word of God. It is reckless for all parties involved. The person needing the help typically will be pushed away. Who could blame them? Who would want to follow a God that allows its followers to spit forth hate, and exclusion? It is reckless for the person trying to help because they become the hypocrite that they hate. Christ did not come for the righteous, he came for the sinners, and that is who we are looking for as well.  We must be careful when we try to help; we have to make sure that we are not actually hurting! It does take great patience, and it does take careful instruction. It most of all takes understanding and the knowledge that we are all the same. We are cut form the same cloth, we are all precious in the eyes of the Lord. When we judge others, we judge ourselves; it is though love that we all will be healed. It is with love that we will conquer the darkness of this world. The love that Christ showed us defeated death! We have that same love to give, imagine the possibilities if we all were to put forth that love instead of the judgment, and hate that come so easy! The darkness would not stand a chance! Take the time to show patience, and love, and let that love provide careful instruction!

 

 

Peace,

Brian