Who You Are

And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. Luke 9:52-55 (KJV) Believe in the best in people. A person becomes trustworthy only when you trust him or her with some worth. Looking at the incident in the scripture quoted above, we can observe that there was a reason the people didn’t receive Jesus’ messengers. “Because his face was as though He was heading for Jerusalem”. These Samaritans observed that Jesus was set to go to Jerusalem. They had no problem with Jesus’ person but they were displeased with His destination as they were not friends with Jerusalem. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. Luke 9:53 (Msg). If you look back a few verses earlier, verse 51 said he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. Now you see why they weren’t welcoming. The manner of Spirit we are of believes the best in others, gives them the benefit of the doubt, and hopes they turn out good. The story of the woman caught in the very act of adultery in John 8 showcases this truth. Rather than condemn the adultery, Jesus redeemed her. He was the righteous one without sin who should have cast the first stone but He saved her and instructed her to go and sin no more. Genuine love covers a multitude of sins. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Proverbs 10:12 (KJV) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) In defining love, the Apostle Paul eloquently states, Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughty. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Amp) Kindly give attention to the emphasized phrases. That’s who you are. God is love and as His children, we are love. We must manifest this awesome attribute in our daily lives. Our anger, vengeance and wrath do not give God glory. These do not promote God’s righteousness. The spirit of Christianity is not a spirit of wrath and vengeance but of peace and gentleness and love. – John Wesley Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 (KJV) Just imagine such abuse of power which the messengers of Jesus wanted to display by calling down fire on people who simply rejected them because of their enmity with Jerusalem. We must be careful how we utilize our authority in Christ and be well guided in exercising His power working through us. I know that some people are simply difficult but we must respond as influenced by Christ’s Spirit of Love in us. Beloved, I believe in you. Your greatness is sure. Shalom!