Be kind to everyone; Hold nothing against anyone.

From my 3rd grader's study on Kindness today:

"Anyone who serves the Lord must not fight.  Instead, he must be kind to everyone.  He must be able to teach.  He must not hold anything against anyone." -- 2 Timothy 2:24

Pastor Jeff Shipman of Columbia Crossroads Church has repeatedly said something to the effect of,  "This Christianity stuff is all well and good until you get around people."  Funny - but isn't it true?  Reading about love in the Bible is so uplifting and positive and inspiring...until you have a painful conflict and actually have to live it out!  God's definition of love feels impossible to live up to -- and it is!  We are a fallen people, incapable of living up to God's standard.  Romans 3:23 reads, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

Trying to live out God's perfect love in a fallen world -- when friends hurl insults & profanity, when people accuse and criticize, when you feel terribly misunderstood -- IS impossible.  But Jesus gives us this hope:  "What is impossible with people is possible with God." -- Luke 18:27

"Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." -- John 15:4

If I want to serve the Lord, I must love everyone and hold nothing against anyone.  If I want to love in such a way, I *must* remain in Christ.  HE is the source of fruit in my life.  May HE be glorified.