Spiritual Snowflakes
Has anyone else noticed how overly sensitive so many people seem to be? It appears at times that virtually everyone gets charged with being offensive in one way or another (e.g., a look, post, posture, words, attitude, action, tone, reaction, beliefs, politics, race, etc.) and you can find yourself feeling like you are walking around on eggshells.
Our actions and reactions clearly matter to God and impact people. As believers, we understand how essential the gift of God’s supernatural love is to the mutual enjoyment and blessing of relationships. God expects His unique love to be flowing in and through us in a way that selflessly and actively gives what is best for others.
This relational love can be summarized in two ways: “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:14), and “love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8). Without God’s love, there’s always a mutual mess and a grieved God.
HOWEVER, we do need to consider both sides of the love coin:
The “heads” side is able to give love to others.
The “tails” side is able to receive grief from others.
Love is essential both ways. We know a lot about the giving side of love (loving words, attitudes, and actions), but what about the receiving side of our love?
Do people walk on eggshells around you? Are you viewed as an oversensitive person? Do you melt down whenever someone offends you, is rude to you, ignores you, or doesn’t meet your expectations?
When God says His love “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8), could that also include how you find ways to quietly deal with another’s sin against you without anyone else knowing?
When God says His love “love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4a), could that include a greater effort and longsuffering on your part than the conventional “three strikes and you’re out” mentality?
When God says love “does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5b), could that include not allowing your personal sensitivities or hurt feelings to become the main issue?
When God says love “is not provoked” (1 Cor. 13:5c), could that not first include a Spirit-filled resistance to anger and assuming the worst about someone else and becoming obsessed with how this injustice must not be overlooked?
Of course, we know all this doesn’t negate or neglect how the truth needs to guide its situational expression (to address sins, not give the devil a foothold, speak the truth in love).
From my seat, relational snowflakes seem to be increasing at a high rate, and on the relational front this indicates a weak, misguided, or neglected love.
So, let’s keep our eyes on the Lord of love whose selfless love caused us to “live through Him” (1 John 4:9) and avoid being a relational snowflake.
We’ve all been lavishly equipped by the gospel of love to avoid melt down because God’s love is able to “bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things” (1 Cor. 13:7).
Get ready. Your love will be tested this week both on the giving side and the receiving side. Let’s let the world see how we can love each other better.
Pastor Jeff