And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

 My wife and I had a discussion the other day on living out our faith in holiness, especially when we leave home and interact with others. One of my challenges happens while driving. I get very frustrated when people drive crazy, putting others at risk, especially those who don’t obey traffic laws, or better yet park at the front of a store in the fire zone. It’s funny when you think about it, but those things can flare up my blood pressure pretty quick, and I have to constantly remind myself, I am a child of God, supposed to have a spirit of holiness. What gets under your skin?

 Today’s verse should be memorized and mentally repeated anytime we engage with others. We live in a world where everyone has an opinion and some are on the opposite end of the scale than your thoughts and beliefs. It’s easy to let our feathers get ruffled, but by conditioning our mind to rehearse Ephesians 4:32, and heed its advice, we can interact with others, and express the love and kindness of Jesus Christ.  It isn’t easy, and it takes time to transform your mind to think differently, especially when your morals, beliefs, and standards are put to the test by others. But it can be done with God’s help through His Holy Spirit living inside you.

 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

 Let God’s Spirit feed you the wisdom and encouragement needed to be the light in this dark world. You don’t have to agree with or accept other’s beliefs that disregard biblical standards, but you can and should show love, seasoned with patience, and peace. Otherwise, no one will see Christ, especially living in you! God bless!