Help Others (Even the Ones You Don't Like)

So, as I am just sitting here and catching my breath for a moment, I realize how busy it has been for myself recently. And I figure if it's been busier than normal for myself, some of you reading this have been busier recently too. It's funny how sometimes we think it's just us going through something when in all actuality, people all around us are more than likely dealing with things too. And I also realized even during this "busy season", I still had other things that God placed on my heart. I had other things that came up and still needed to be taken care of. And if I'm being honest, which I am, I had to do things I really didn't want to do. I didn't want to do them because my flesh just wasn't into it.

I think as Christians, we hear about forgiving others and we will "amen" it. We will hear about helping others and again, we will "amen" it. The Bible tells us to love others and we will be right there saying "that's right, love everyone, help when we can, forgive people". I often notice when you are one of the one's in such agreement with things, there's a good chance God is going to stretch you on it. And we should be willing to be stretched. How else can you grow if you aren't learning or walking the walk? And my growth and learning may not be the same as you. We are all different beings. We are all called to be the hands and the feet of the Lord though. So, my hands and feet are probably going to be doing something different from your hands and feet. And that's a good thing. So, don't be comparing your walk to someone else's, we all have a walk, our walks should look different.

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Mark 12:30 - 31 - You are to love the Lord your God, with a passionate heart, from the depths of your soul, with your every thought, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is this: You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself. You will never find a greater commandment than these.

Colossians 3:13 - Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.

Romans 12:13 - Take a constant interest in the needs of God's beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home.

Just from the few scriptures here, not one of them have said, help when it's convenient for you. Not one has said to love those that have only been good to you. It doesn't say forgive those that you feel deserve to be forgiven. In fact, there are plenty of other Bible verses on these subjects of loving, forgiving, and helping one another, and none of them say it's for only those people you like. They all just tell us (Christians) to do it.

I assure you, in the past couple of weeks, God placed on my heart to help someone. I am going to be frank about this. I didn't want to help this person because of things I know. I didn't want to help this person because of how said person has treated people I love. And as I continue to be honest, I am sure several of us have been in that spot or position of reasonings as to why we just don't want to help. You know, there were other people I know that didn't want me to help this person either. Some of them are Christians or at least claim to be. And as I was listening to other's opinions, my heart was screaming something else.

My personal belief is I can't sit at church and shout amen to forgiveness of others, loving others, helping others, and then decide that one of God's people isn't worth my time or effort. And yes, even those you don't care for or want to do anything for are one of God's people. My job is to do what the Scriptures tell me. As a Christian, that's your job as well.

This was one of those times that the Scriptures were used to correct me and I am more than ok with that. And as we all grow and do our walk with God, we should all be okay with that. Help others, even the ones we don't like.