Day 14- Choose to Accept, Choose to Sacrifice

This entry is really a continuation of yesterday's entry's ideas (also, I didn't write a whole lot because at the time I figured it would be easier to just use the book as a direct reference. . . in retrospect, it was probably because I was very tired).

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Another thing we need to do in order to love like Jesus is to accept others. I know I've said it before, but I just love this statement: God accepts us where we are, but He loves us to much to leave us there. Anyway, relationships, though they are formed on similarities, only grow when we get to the point of accepting the differences. And acceptance is quite different than forgiveness- differing points of view, methods of dealing with situations, grieving, worship. . . all of those need to be ACCEPTED, not forgiven, because there aren't always right and wrong. Are we really so self-righteous that we feel the need to forgive those that are different than us? Be careful you don't fall into that.

The final thing we can do to love others is to sacrifice. Using the description of love from 1 Corinthians 13, there are five ways that we can make daily sacrifices to show love. First, we need to be patient. We have to let people take the time they need to work through a problem instead of just jumping in and doing it for them (and stepping all over them in the process). We have to avoid the tendency to finish other peoples' statements, or to just interrupt before they have finished. After all, God listens to every single word we say when we pray to Him. Second, we need to be kind (there is never, ever, ever, never, ever, never, never, ever a reason not to be nice, right?). "Kindness means we recognize and meet someone's need in a practical way." Simple things, like cleaning up, paying for a meal, taking care of something that no one sees, or in any other way that you are giving your time to someone, all those little things add up in big ways. Third, we need to avoid pride. Pride, boasting, and envy are all rooted in insecurity, and that's sometimes a tough cookie to swallow (hah, get it? Swallow your pride? . . . anybody?). True security in a relationship says, "No matter what, I will always love you." Fourth, we need to avoid selfishness. That might seem obvious, but we are so oblivious to ourselves sometimes. The four things listed in the verse (rudeness, self-seeking, easily angered, keeping a list of wrongs) are giant flashing signs of when we are being selfish. The final thing is that we can't give up. I love the image of the origin of the word "persevere": a soldier who ties his leg to another soldier so that, even in fear, he can't run away and leave his friend to fight alone. We have to believe in the other person and stay with them through the tough times. Jesus promises that we can love like He loves because He commands us to do so! That within itself should be empowering.

Point to Ponder: The greatest sacrifices love makes may not be the once-in-a-lifetime sacrifices but may well be the daily sacrifices.
How many times do we get to save someone from a burning building? Or give someone a random investment tip that allows them financial freedom? Or pick someone off the street and get them started back on a productive life path? You haven't done those things either? Then the statement above is probably true.

Verse to Remember: 1 Corinthians 13:7- "[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
I love 1 Corinthians 13. Is that ironic?

Question to Consider: Whom do I need to accept in love? How and to whom can I express love through patience, kindness, humility, unselfishness, and perseverance?
Big questions. Tough questions. Things to think about for sure.