Have you ever said (or privately thought), “I hate people!”
I’m guilty of it.
- People let us down.
- People disappoint us.
- People sin.
- People aren’t worthy of our forgiveness.
- People make us angry.
- People do bad things to other people.
This week in our Connect Group at Trinity Baptist Church, Josh Mudford led us in a discussion of Chapter 4 in the book I Will. The chapter’s focus was on “I will serve”.
My favorite thing that Josh said was “Thank God Jesus didn’t hang on the cross and say, ‘I hate people.’”
Like many of us often feel inside when the brokenness of others around us hurts us, we could all justify in our minds that Jesus had every right to say those 3 words, but he stayed humble, and died on the cross for the sins of all instead.
**** 1 Peter 2:22-25 ****
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
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Jesus loved people. He spent his life on earth as a role model for how we should all live. He gave us two commandments above all others to build our lives upon: Love God and Love People.
**** Matthew 22:36-40 ****
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
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If you’re stuck living with a heart that convinces you the words, “I hate people” are the best way to live your life, there are three steps you can take to heal your heart.
1. GET SAVED
**** Romans 10:9-10 ****
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
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If you have not yet asked Jesus to be your savior, or if you have not yet fully allowed the Holy Spirit into your heart as a guide, today is the day to do so.
**** Romans 8:26-27 ****
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
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2. FIND YOUR CALLING
Jesus has a special calling for all of us. He didn’t just call preachers and teachers to tell the world about him and to serve others.
**** Mark 16:15 ****
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
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Often we are too afraid to step outside of our comfort zones to live our calling.
3. LIVE YOUR CALLING
God doesn’t call you to something and then not equip you with the tools you need to do it. God uses everyday people, through fellowship and service to others, to share His message and draw the world closer to Him.
Maybe you’re afraid to share your testimony because you’re afraid of public speaking. God has already instilled the tools inside of you to get over that fear … and you can when you let down your pride and walk in obedience without fear of being judged.
Maybe you’re afraid to join a group because your talents are not as good as others in the group. Reread the second sentence of the last paragraph.
Why are you allowing the fear of others judging you to hold you back, while not worrying about the fear of God’s judgement when you stand before Him unable to explain why you didn’t live your calling?
**** Ephesians 2:8-10 ****
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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While Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us works alone will not save us, Ephesians 10 reminds us God has prepared all of us to do good works.
Here is the exciting part of fully living your life as a Christian. It is not FOR your salvation that you want to do good deeds, it is BECAUSE of your salvation.
If you’re not sure where to get started, prayer is always a good first step.
“Lord, I don’t know how I’m supposed to do what you’ve called me to do, but I know you’ve called me to do it. Help me to discover the gifts you’ve already placed inside me, so I can open them and fully live my purpose. Help me to remove the obstacles the enemy has placed in front of me that I’ve been too blinded to see so that I may serve and tell the world about you.”
**** 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ****
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
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The next time you find yourself thinking, “I hate people” or “I hate him” or “I hate her”, remind yourself that you’ve been called to serve others. Love comes with a price, but what you have been called to sacrifice to show others unconditional love is far less than what God sacrificed to give you the opportunity to live with Him forever.
**** John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
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- People let us down, but we let Jesus down and He still loves us.
- People disappoint us, but we disappoint Jesus, and He still loves us.
- People sin, but we also sin against Jesus, and He still loves us.
- People aren’t worthy of our forgiveness, and we aren’t worthy of His forgiveness, but Jesus still shows us grace.
- You get the point.
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