Day 3
(Love is)…Not Easily Irritated
The title is part of I Corinthians 13:5
(Holman Christian Standard Bible). Other
versions render this: “Love…doesn’t fly
off the handle” (The Message); “Love…is not easily provoked” (KJV); “Love…is not
easily angered” (NIV); “Love…is not touchy” (Amplified).
I struggle at times with anger, getting
irritated, etc. As I think about what
pushes my buttons, it usually comes down to losing control. Not losing control of myself, but being
unable to determine my outcomes, my security, my success, my happiness.
If my security, my happiness, etc. is
threatened by matters out of my control, my natural response is anger. The big problem is that I am not capable of
maintaining that level of control. There
are too many forces at work which are outside my influence: other people (and the decisions they make);
corporations and other institutions; the government and its laws, rules and
regulations; the weather; society and what it promotes; international
situations, and so on.
If I am unable to control people or
circumstances that affect me (or, put another way, if my life is in many
respects out of control), then I’m likely to be angry or irritable much of the
time. Does my life have to be that way?
For the Christian, the answer is
“no”. The Bible teaches that when I
accept Christ, the Holy Spirit enters and empowers me. The fruit of that Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal.
5:22-23). Sound irritable? Angry?
So, when I indulge in being angry or
irritable, guess who I’ve pushed aside in my life? Worse, do I carry my frustrations to my loved
ones instead of to the One who can actually help me?
The Bible teaches that when I accept
Christ, I become a new creation (II Cor. 5:17); the old has gone and the new
comes. The old me that gets easily riled
up, goes; the new creation comes and helps me become better than I could ever
be on my own. Understand, this doesn’t happen
all at once; it’s a life-long process.
I’m a better person than I was five or ten years ago. I’m not as good a person as I will be in five
or ten years. That’s because I’m
determined to read, learn and put God’s word to work in my life. I’m determined, more and more, to seek the
Holy Spirit’s involvement in my life.
I’m determined that when unworthy thoughts enter my mind, to take them
captive and to push them aside, in Jesus’ name (II Cor. 10:5).
In short: less of me, more of Jesus. That’s better for me, better for my loved
ones and better for God’s Kingdom.
It’s better than being touchy.
Prayer: Dear Lord, for those things I can control,
help me to honor you. For those things I
can’t control, please help me to trust you more, not that you’ll necessarily do
what I prefer, but so that the love of Jesus will flow through me in all
circumstances, and you will be glorified through my response to all
situations. Thank you.
Less of me, more of Jesus. How would that change your closest
relationships? How would you become more
loving as a result?
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How
does the desire for control hinder love, and make me irritable?
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