Room!

In order to make room for something it is sometimes necessary to move something else out. Just as this is true with regard to space in our homes, it is also true with the human HEART. We have the capacity to love many many people. However, it is possible to hold affection for either self or things in such a way that there is no room to love others as we should.

Paul exhorted those at Corinth to…
“(2) MAKE ROOM IN YOUR HEARTS FOR US. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. (3) I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS, to die together and to live together.” ( 2 Corinthians 7:2-3 ESV)

Had their affection for Paul been replaced by others or something else? Though it had been necessary for Paul to be pretty direct with regard to some of the changes in focus these Christians needed to make, did they no longer have room for Paul in their HEARTS? Had they begun to question Paul’s love? The place they held in Paul’s HEART was with a readiness to either live or die with them. Did they need to be reminded of the genuineness of Paul’s love for them? It appears Paul was seeking for their relationship with him to be drawn back together. He desired for them to feel for him as he felt for them. Paul had given of himself while in their midst and urged them to retain a place for him (and the others who labored with Paul) in their HEARTS.

Perhaps we have allowed situations or even needed instruction to change our openness toward other Christian brothers and sisters. Is there a need for the HEART to be reopened toward them, allowing them to once again have a place in our life? Let us not allow pettiness to cause separation within God’s family. There is enough of that wishy-washiness and fickleness of feelings in this world for it to create challenges within the church and distract from the Lord’s work in which we are to be involved. It is a detractor from unity and a waster of energy. Instead, let us choose to love as the Lord has loved and accepted us, doing so for the sake of the Lord’s body and the glory of God. ( Romans 15:7)

Let us strive to do as Paul urged those at Colossae.
“(12) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (13) BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER and, if one has a complaint against another, FORGIVING EACH OTHER; AS THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN YOU, so you also must forgive.” ( Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

Have a great day EXPANDING THE HEART TOWARD ONE ANOTHER!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Relationships