Looking Into The Heart

We all have our "lists" of people that we put on the bad list, and I can guarantee that they are on your bad list because they have hurt your feelings at least once. But have you ever stopped to think if it was even right for you to place them on your bad list? No matter how bad someone has treated you, there is a way to put them back on your good list. 

Recently, I have been going through some difficulty with my website developer. Many things just went wrong with the website and at the end, he refused to fix the issues. I was beyond upset and felt that he deserved my bashing and lashing. In my mind, he was already on my bad list and I did not care about sending him mean replies. 

"He deserved it", I said to myself. Seeing his uncaring actions, how was it wrong for me to put him on my bad list? But it was at that moment when God spoke to me and said, "Do you deserve how I treat you?"

Do we deserve how God treats us? His love, grace, and mercy.. do we all deserve this? For it says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." This verse clearly shows us that none of us deserve God's love and grace. But despite our great sins, God does not lash out on us or say mean things to us. He sees our hearts and welcomes us with his loving arms. He tries to fix us by showing his grace and love, and that is what we should do to everyone who we think deserves to be on our bad list. 

In our eyes, those who hurt us do deserve to be on the bad list, but in God's eyes, no one deserves to be left on that bad list. Jesus came to this earth to show us an example of how to live; are you following his way in loving others? 

Do not treat someone the way they deserve to be treated because you are not treated by God in the way you should be treated. 

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, he said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). How could Jesus say that to those who killed him for his innocence?

Because Jesus saw their hearts, not their actions. 

How can God still love us despite how much we have hurt him through our sins? Because he sees our hearts. God puts us in a vulnerable state so that he can love and save us from the doom of sin. 

I chose to change my perspective with my website developer and see his heart, not his actions. His actions may seem hurtful, but I know that deep inside he never wanted to hurt me in the first place.

Let us show God's love to others by looking at their hearts instead of their actions. It can be easy to let the harsh words and actions of others get to you, but look into their heart. If they knew what was truth and life, they would never have hurt you. They only did what they did because their hearts did not know what was the pure and right thing to do. 

Instead of putting others on our bad list, pray for them and say the words Jesus spoke, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." Put others in a vulnerable state so that you may be able to show them God's full love. Bashing others will do no good, but when we show God's love to others, we are helping them run to God.

Don't let a harmful action block the chance for you to show God's love, because then you are working for the enemy. 

God's great commandment for us all is to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). When you choose to look at people's hearts and show them God's love, you will find your life filled with more joy than putting them on your bad list.

No matter who you meet, sometime down the road they will hurt you. But will you let their hurtful actions stop you from pursuing the calling that God has for you? Forgive others so that you may be able to love them. So remember, look into the heart.