When we understand God’s truths, we are excited to share the insight He revealed to us, and we want to prevent others from making the same mistakes we made.
However, we must realize that we were given the perfect time to reach that point of understanding. God placed certain events in our lives that taught us personal lessons. He orchestrated every job move, every occasion, and every person to cross our paths at just the right time for our hearts to accept His grace.
How, then, can we not do the same for others? If we mapped out a timeline of our personal growth and compared them to each other, the timelines would all look very different. None of us is better than the other – God has given the grace to bring salvation to all; Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”
Though our lives might look different from another person’s, who are we to say “when” God will bring the same understanding? There may be a person, job, or event in that person’s life that hasn’t happened yet. And we give them grace.
We understand God’s timing isn’t when we think something should occur. We were given time to learn and to accept what God was doing in our lives, and we must trust Him to answer our prayers for others and to enlighten them in His time.
Luke 6:31 31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” What would have happened if others tried to rush us before we could hear the Holy Spirit teaching or healing?
It is good to be kind. To give grace to others. When we are patient, kind, peaceful, and use self-control, we bear the fruit of the Spirit and thrive. We allow others to thrive. It’s healthy for our spirit to let go and let God.
Matt 18:33 “And shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”
Colossians 3:12, 13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
We are to love others. Not just those who think like us. When we see someone through God’s eyes, we treat them better. Even when they behave differently – they are God’s children, too, our brothers/sisters in Christ.
1 Peter 2:17 “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
We cannot know why someone behaves a certain way, and we cannot think they should be more like us. God created us with various gifts and will use them as He sees fit. Our call is to share the love of Jesus, to be living witnesses of our faith in Him, and to forgive.
Give grace to someone you have had a problem with. Give it to the Lord, ask Him to help you see them through His eyes, pray for them, be kind, and watch what God will do in their lives – and yours.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”