Family & Friends,

How well do you handle other people? Especially those who rub you the wrong way. As the Lord’s servant we must handle people with extra care. 

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged.” (2 Timothy 2:24 NASB)

• We are instructed in this passage to avoid being quarrelsome. This is the verbal fighting that often happens when we want to prove we are right. However, being quarrelsome is like scraping sandpaper against the skin of the other person. Trust me, it is not effective. It behooves us to be kind to all and not just kind to some. 
• God wants us to be understanding and compassionate, showing one another the same grace and mercy that we desire. We can all start by simply saying more and more gracious things instead of being harsh or mean.
• God wants us to be able to teach, and that doesn’t just mean ministers or deacons but every believer. And most people are more apt to be taught by someone who is kind to them. Being kind is how God wants us to instruct others rather than argue.
• God wants us to be patient when we have been wronged. The New Living Translation puts it this way: “be patient with difficult people” 2 Timothy 2:24. That’s because there will always be difficult people that we will encounter in life; we will also be wronged many times in life. Nevertheless, God is asking you and me to keep our cool and not fly off the handle when someone offends us or hurts us. 
• God wants us to show incredible patience with others, especially when we find them to be difficult. One way I would define difficult people is as those who don’t agree with me! (LOL JK) God also wants us to be patient by allowing Him to deal with the injustice that may come our way rather than take it into our own hands.

So, how are you doing in your relationship with those you live, work, or go to school with? God wants to use you in the lives of others to make a difference for all eternity. He will give you the ability you need to be a blessing to each and every person in your life!

Rev. Michael Ellington, Pastor