Last night’s youth staff meeting we discussed our individual lenses. In other words, what lens do we view ourselves in as well as what lens do we use to view others? Tonight during my devotional I read about God’s command to love one another and realized that both lessons were connected. Allow me to give you the long and short of it:

Showing love must start with a change in my perception: I don’t deem someone as worthy of MY love but as worthy of Christ’s love through me. Note to self–that applies to EVERYONE.

Therefore,
if someone’s behavior makes me view them as unlovable — WRONG.
if someone’s personality causes me to view them as unlovable — INCORRECT.
if another’s personal betrayal demands my view change to unlovable –ERRONEOUS
if another’s unkind words incite a heart to punish by not loving — FALLICIOUS AGAIN!!

I’m sure you get the picture. All I have to do is re-read 1 Corinthians 13 to realize I’ve got a long way to go. However, even today a small victory was won, when I chose to return some angry words with a kind calm one. Like the old song says, “He’s still working on me….”

Have a great week and polish up that lens of love.