I want to be nice, really I do. And that usually works out just fine for me until I emerge from the quiet of my room into the world of living and interacting with other people. Maybe you aren’t like me and can’t relate at all. But, my firecracker temper can surface unannounced and unexpectedly, I’m happy and at peace one minute and the next someone has stepped on my fuse and watch out world!
What ignites my fuse, you ask? I’m embarrassed to say, it’s not a noble or good cause; rather, it’s more often than not a perceived injustice directed towards me. Yup, that’s right, selfishness to the core. I want what I want…and I deserve it, because…
*Insert buzzer sound** Wrong Answer!
This is not who I want to be. This is not who God wants me to be.
Serve one another humbly in love – vs 13
Love your neighbor as yourself – vs 14
If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. – vs 15
It goes on to lists things to avoid like drunkenness, orgies, witchcraft and as sins of the flesh. Then, right there in the middle of the list of seemingly big sins sits selfish ambition. Yup, you read that right. Selfish ambition. Ouch. Double ouch. vs. 19-21
The next verse go on to say, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” vs. 22-23
So, how do I live the way I want to and the way God wants me to?
By breathing in grace and love
and breathing out selfishness and anger
Constantly, moment by moment, choosing joy, peace and love and putting off all that isn’t. All that good effort is short lived without the help and power of the Holy Spirit. Since living a life a a hermit isn’t in my near future, I’m going to have to live with people. I’d surely like to have Christ flow in and through me and be a breath of fresh air to those around me, instead of being a cloud of black smoke choking the life out of everyone I come into contact with.
God, I want to love others like you’ve loved me. Help me to breath in your grace and love and breath out selfishness and anger. Without your help my efforts are futile, I need your power and strength. May my life be a reflection of you and not of my will. In Jesus name, Amen.