Recently, while teaching, I postulated that a person attitude toward another say an awful lot
about his or her faith. To say it more
plainly, how one acts toward another tell everyone about that person.
So, for those of us who cherish the label ‘Christians,’
the question arises… what kind of person are known to be? Are
we known for our kindness? Or are we seen
as a person who rude? The Bible is clear
that our action speak loudly! It is incredibly
easy to give an excuse for not being kind to another. We may be mad or the person may deserve our resentment. The person may be known to be unkind and we
may feel justified in our callousness.
Yet, Scripture is clear that our attitude toward others is a reflection
on our faith. Ephesians 4:32 states, “Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you.” According this verse, how
we treat one another is truly a reflection of our understanding of Christ
work. Being kind, tender-hearted,
forgiving is not done because that is the kind of person we are. Rather, we act this way because of the love
that is conveyed through the salvific work of Christ. John writes in the fourth chapter of First
John that, “…if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
The point is plain, we should love one another because of
the love we have received. Yes, a person may have committed an offense toward
us. Yes, some people are just difficult. Yes, some people are hard to love because they
are irritating, brash, vulgar, self-aggrandizing, self-deprecating, or a myriad
of other things. Yet, my brother and
sisters, the truth is whose you are is seen in the way you treat others!