Bringing "Nice" Back!

Good Morning My Loves,

I read a story recently about a prostitute who pimped out her children and then used the money to support her drug habit. When asked if she had thought about going to church for help she had a shocked look on her face, and said “Why would I want to go there? I already feel horrible about myself, they’ll just make me feel worse. I don’t know any “nice” Christians.”

This woman is like many people who believe that Christianity is more about hypocrisy and criticism, than love. Many people have a false perception of Christians and the Church, because of the conviction they feel over their lifestyle. However that isn’t always the case. Some of them have had experiences with those who call themselves Christians, but do not act very Christ-like.

When we are unkind, impatient, unforgiving, rude, proud, greedy, and dishonest, we miss opportunities to know the joy of releasing “compassion,” and loving on those that “DESPERATELY” need to know Jesus.

I’ve met people who were ill-treated by a professing Christian, or watched the way that believers treat each other, and they said, “If that’s what it means to be a Christian, then I don’t want to be one.”

However, I’ve also met many who were shown great love by Christians, right in the middle of their mess, and they said “I didn’t deserve their love, but they loved me anyways. They were so nice to me, and I want what they have!” They wanted Jesus because of the way they were treated! We are either a magnet, or a deterrent to people coming to Jesus, based on the way we treat them, and each other!

My beloved, we may not always agree with each other, but we can still be nice to each other. We may not agree with a person’s lifestyle, and we may not condone their behavior, but we can BE NICE!

-We can be NICE without compromising our core values.

-We can be NICE and live a righteous life.

-We can be NICE and walk in holiness.

In fact, the word of God says:

John 13:35 (ERV)

35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” None of us would be saved and on our way to heaven, if Papa God had not befriended us while we were still his enemies and in our mess.

Romans 5:10 (ERV)

10 I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life.

Notice, it doesn’t say that he made friends with us “AFTER” we got it all together. He gave His one and only Son to bring us into relationship with Him, WHILE we were jacked up, because He loved us!

What are we willing to give to bring people to Him?

Are we willing to give up an argument?

Are we willing to give up our bitterness? Our offense? Our jealousy, self-righteous attitude, anger, unforgiveness……?

Let’s be willing to let go of whatever hinders love, and do our part to bring nice back. The world is gauging the authenticity of our Christianity by the way we treat each other. Let’s make sure we are the real deal!

I love you all! PV