Coming off of hearing news that was kind of heartbreaking, last night, a good friend of mine shared a really good Bible passage with me that really hit me hard. Now, to be honest, normally when I am in the beginning of feeling pain and hurt, the last thing I want is advice, or really anyone to say anything. In the beginning, I just want a listener, and I definitely do not want someone to preach at me. But I'm glad that my friend still shared this verse, this idea with me, because it definitely convicted me in more ways than one, and definitely set the wheels in motion for my life to turn around and head back up.
My friend brought up 1 Timothy 5 where it is talking about how to treat those in the church. It's a passage that is mainly directed at teaching pastors, but still, I think some of it really applies in my life right now. I think it's safe to say that even if we aren't pastors in a church, we should still treat others as this passage suggests.
So here's the deal. The bad news that I had received earlier, was one of rejection from a boy that I really cared about so much, for quite a long time. I'm now put into a position where I don't know quite what do to, how do I treat him now, how do I move on? All of these questions and more just spring up in my mind. How do you stop loving someone that you loved so much? Now here's the key that my friend brought up: instead, love him as a brother.
Now the actual verse in the Bible says “Treat younger men as brothers” and it is like I said, in a passage that is giving direction to pastors. But I read this passage as one directed to everyone, saying treat men as brothers, and as the passage in the Bible goes on to say, treat elder men as fathers, treat women as sisters, and older women as mothers. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and we should love each other as such.
Now, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will transforming my romantic love, into love that a sister gives to her brother, will be accomplished in that time. That's going to take a while, as I heal and get things back to normal. And spending so much time with this boy right off the bat is definitely not going to help the process. But with a little space, time, and God, I think one day I will be able to say that I love and cherish him as a brother.
Now that passage solved not only that issue, but another as well. I may have had lots of love for this boy, but I didn't have much love for anyone else. Earlier in the year, God started putting on my heart that I need to be more loving and compassionate to everyone, even those who are hard to love, which is my weakness. This passage reminded me that I need to get back to work on that, and loving the people around me as if they are my brothers and sisters, even those who I definitely do not get along with.
Dear God, my prayer right now is that you will help me to love those around me as You would have me love them. To cherish them with all of my heart, and brothers and sisters, because we are all united, as brothers and sisters, under Christ. Help me to remember that, even in times when it is difficult to be loving.
“1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2
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