UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (Part II)
Yesterday’s tale of the innocent baby who demonstrated
unconditional acceptance of the homeless man challenges both the quantity and
quality of our love. Jesus Christ expressed it best, “Except
you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom
of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) It is far easier to say ‘I love you’ than to truly
exemplify the highest of Christian virtues. Many people proclaim
(with apparent ease), “I love everybody!” But saying and doing are
decidedly different; there must be evidence.
During my elementary school years, our science class
explored what is commonly called the ‘Litmus
Test.’ This simple test determines whether a substance
is acid or alkaline. If the pH
(potential of hydrogen in the substance) is acid, the litmus paper turns red in
color when exposed to that substance. If the pH is alkaline, the
litmus paper turns blue. Acids taste sour. For example,
lemon juice is an acidic substance. Alkaline substances taste
bitter. For example, ammonia is an alkaline substance.
Today, we will take the ‘Spiritual
Litmus Test’ to determine if our relationships with family, friends,
neighbors, co-workers, strangers, or enemies are too extreme (sour or bitter)
in one direction are another.
Spiritual Litmus Test
#1
Do I look for (and
expect) the worst in others?
Signs of this type of behavior include…
1. A tendency to
keep a mental record of what others do that ‘get on our nerves.’
2. A tendency to
speak more negatively, than positively.
3. A tendency to
think or say “I told you she would do that! I told you so!”
4. A tendency to
believe others are always being deceptive or lying.
Biblical Solutions:
I Corinthians 13:5b says love “thinks no evil.” Verse 6 says love “rejoices not in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth.”
Spiritual Litmus Test
#2
Do I have a low
tolerance for other people who exhibit attitudes or behaviors that are
different from mine?
Signs of this type of behavior include…
1. A tendency to
prejudge people by appearance, color, culture, or socio-economic standing, i.e.
to become prejudiced against others
because they are different or unfamiliar.
2. A tendency to be
strongly opinionated or have a know-it-all attitude about most things.
3. A tendency to
feel that only ‘me and mine’ know how to get things done ‘the right way.’
Biblical Solutions:
I Corinthians 13:4b says love “vaunts not itself, is not puffed
up.” Verse 5 says love “does
not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own.”
Spiritual Litmus Test
#3
Am I able to forgive,
or do i tend to hold on to troublesome issues for long periods?
Signs of this type of behavior include…
1. A tendency to
hold grudges, i.e. to keep issues alive and active until they change the way I
communicate or interact with others.
2. A tendency to
have a negative attitude that eventually results in critical comments and/or
harsh treatment of others.
3. A tendency to
display childish behaviors, i.e. verbal outbursts or temper tantrums.
Biblical Solutions:
I Corinthians 13:4a says love “suffers long, and is kind.” Verse 5b
says love “is not
easily provoked, thinks no evil.” Verse 7 says love “bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
The negative behavioral signs (outlined above) identify
those sour and bitter personality traits that will
not pass the Spiritual Litmus Test. FYI,
there will be no sour or
bitter people in Heaven! Should you find that these
characteristics mirror your own attitudes or actions, here are some divine
prescriptions from The Master, Love
Personified, JESUS CHRIST: 1] The Golden Rule. (Luke 6:31);
2] “Judge not…condemn not.” (Luke 6:37); 3] “Love one another.” (John
13:34-35); 4] “Forgive men their trespasses [and] your heavenly father will
also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14); 5] “Forgive…I say not unto thee, not until
seven times: but, until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21) In other
words, forgiveness is virtually unlimited!
Let us strive steadfastly to walk in UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE…because GOD IS LOVE, and He must be fully alive within so He can be
dynamically reflected everywhere and to all. (I John 4:7-8)
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