*REACHING OUT—-Some people annoy us. Sometimes, the best we can do is to tolerate them. Tolerating people, however, isn’t loving them, and God has set a high standard for us in relationships. God has imparted genuine, unconditional love to us, and He gives us an example of what love looks like. He is the prime mover, the One who initiated love toward us when we were completely unlovable.
The love we show others indicates our level of love for God. If we fail to love horizontally, we can assume there’s a problem in our vertical relationship with God. We won’t reach out in love until God has first reached into our hearts to enable us to love Him.
We love those around us by pursuing what’s best for them. When we’re listening, we’re fully present in the moment. When we’re caring, we give everything we’ve got because we’re aware that God gave His all to us. The more we experience the transforming love of God, the more His love spills out of us toward those around us.
“We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” I John 4:19-21
Who are the people and what are the situations when the best you can do is to tolerate them?
*LIFE’S PROMISES FOR LEADERS by Zig Ziglar