FIND COMMON GROUND
There are extreme sports, extreme weather conditions, extreme views on virtually any subject. Whatever you think about any of these things, someone else may completely disagree. It might be hard to find common ground.
Who is right and who is wrong?
Is there more than one way to look at the idea or situation?
It’s easy to get stuck in our own little world, feeling safe, not being threatened by an opposing point of view. Some people are happy to do this no matter how it might affect someone else. As long as they have what they want, the world can just go on without them. It doesn’t matter who they might hurt in the process.
This is pretty obvious in the political realm or just about any other area in our world. It doesn’t matter what “side” you are on, someone else will think you are wrong.
Isn’t there a better way?
What if we actually stopped spouting our own views and listened to someone who holds opposite views? When we let down our guard and open our hearts to someone else, it might surprise us to find out we have more in common than we realized.
The first step in reconciliation in any area is our willingness to find that common ground, establish friendships and work from there. Instead of hate, we might find forgiveness and love. True reconciliation comes when we let love lead the way, when we realize that people are more important than ideologies.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
TRUTH AND LOVE IN GOD’S WORD
As a Christian, I believe the Bible is the word of God. It contains all we need to live our lives in a way that shines the light of Christ. This means sharing the truth lovingly, not trying to force someone to think or act a certain way. None of us meets God’s standards on our own. Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and through His resurrection, we have freedom from sin and freedom to become the best possible version of ourselves.
Far from being a rule book, the Bible gives real life examples of almost anything you can think of. Of course, it doesn’t give exact situations of today’s world, but the examples cover principles that can be applied today or any time. The Bible is timeless in its advice.
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever.
John 8:31-35
What are your thoughts? Do you think love really makes a difference?
I’m linking up with: #InspireMeMonday and #FiveMinuteFriday where the prompt word is extreme. (I may have taken a little more than 5 minutes….)
Amen! Yes love really does make all the difference. Such a beautiful view for your verse background, Gayl. God has created such an amazing world for us to share with each other. Oh that we could enjoy and share that beauty in love! Blessings and love to you my dear friend!
Thank you, dear Bettie! Yes, our world really is amazing. Love is what we all need.
Blessings, love and hugs to you! xo
I love this, Gayl: “True reconciliation comes when we let love lead the way”. And who is love but Christ in us, God’s perfect sacrifice for us all.
This post of yours reminds me of this verse you sent me, when you didn’t know I was struggling with such condemnation for my past failings to love others as Christ loves me:
The LORD guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and He saved me.
Thank you for being Christ’s love to me from afar, as I have been learning, by falling and getting up again, to follow His sweet promptings, resist the enemy’s taunts and humble myself beneath my Father’s mighty hand, trusting Him to continue to guard me in my inexperience as I learn and grow in His teaching to love Him as He loves me.
Thank you, Anna. I’m so glad to have encouraged you now and in the past. You are also an encouragement to me, always pointing to the Lord. Blessings and love to you! xo
good thoughts
Thank you, Annette! Blessings to you!
Gayl, so much wisdom in this. We do not necessarily have to agree with everyone, but we are still called to share in love. May we share the truth in love and be remembered for doing so, even with those who may not agree with us. Such an important reminder!
Thank you for your comments, Joanne! Amen to your words. Blessings and love to you! xo
I am right and they are wrong
(in fact, I think them quite deranged),
and I won’t listen to their song,
for if I do, I may be changed;
my heart of steel may start to melt,
to be replaced by an unknown,
and the righteousness I felt
will be in coming daylight shown
to have been mere hiding-place
from which wide world would not be seen,
and I would have to offer grace
to those whom I had thought unclean
and accept their charity
as they did the same for me.
Thought provoking poem, Andrew, and full of truth. If we all could only offer grace, how much better things could be. Blessings to you!
Great post, Gayl. I think we entrench our opinion by judging ourselves as right and the other as wrong, and the judgment is our sin. God alone is the judge. We then spend unnecessary energy justifying our opinion.
Yes, it is the truth that sets us free.
Thank you, Dawn. Yes, you are right – God alone is the judge. Thank you for your thoughts! Blessings to you!