Romans 12:14-16 NLT “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all.”
Hmm, see, I told you it gets a bit tricky here!
Bless those who persecute you! To persecute is to treat someone with hostility, and ill treatment due to race, politics or religious beliefs…bless them, pray for them and ask God to bless them! Why???
Because one the Lord instructs us too , and by following his instructions, our lives are blessed and more peaceful, but I also feel that we are Christ’s examples. I can behave as my persecutor, and I have and do; however, as I grow in Jesus and he grows in me, I find I want to work hard at showing his example. This choice of behavior doesn’t make me weak or afraid of confrontation; it offers a calmer, more thoughtful, more controlled me! If I react and behave as the non-believer, what sets me apart as His light?
Be happy with those who are happy and weep with those who weep! Sounds easy enough, right! Are you truly happy for your friend who just got a brand new car while yours is coughing and on its last leg? Are you happy for your girlfriend who just received a sparkly engagement ring while you’ve been patiently waiting, and longer than her to be exact! Are you happy for your co-worker who just got the promotion you wanted? Probably not; we are human! Try on this thought, show true happiness for the blessings of others and then watch the Lord rain blessings upon you! Sometimes it boils down to an attitude and an adjustment needed, but those actual adjustments are what usher in our gifts.
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. I thrive on balance and seek it at all times possible, but we all know those people in our lives or world that seem to thrive on mayhem, and if there isn’t any, they will produce some. We are advised to be the water on the flames of antagonism, not the gasoline to fuel.
Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. You know the ones and most of us are highly ashamedly guilty. You know the ones who don’t dress like us, smell like us, look like us! The invisible and the forgotten. Everyone has a personality, everyone has a story and we all carry within a bit of learned wisdom we can share. We need to take the time to look beyond ourselves to learn to care and share!
And Don’t Think You Know It All! You may know quite a bit, but no one knows everything. When we think we know it all and have it all figured out we stop learning. Life is one big lesson every day; if we stop learning, we stop growing, and if we stop growing, we wither.
As we study the ways of our Lord, anything he ever asks us to do, there is always great that comes from within and above. When we try as hard as we can to walk in his ways it’s amazing how much smoother our paths become. Join me on my walk, it isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it!
Be blessed today and thank you for joining me. 🥰
Sunshine On My Shoulder 