Living the Good Life

I am going out for the day, but this was in my heart this morning, and so will write this quick blog to get it written down. Because I am in a hurry, I am not able to write out the scripture verses for the moment. When I have time, I will edit this and fill in the scripture quotes. I think a key in dealing with difficult people is in realizing that we have been given a great gift, and if it were not for God giving it to us, we would be no better off than those who are in the world without Him and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). The reason we can maintain our peace when people treat us wrongly is that we have a God who cares for us deeply. They do not have that, and so they fight and strive in hopes of getting their own way, making others "respect" them, and try to exalt themselves. All of this is selfish, of course; but since they are without God's love and peace, they have only themselves to rely on. We however have all they are looking for. It is God's gift to us. We have the promise of an unimaginable inheritance. We have the promises of God which He lays out for us to discover in His Word. We are beloved children of the God who created the very universe (Eph. 1:3-6). We can know the very mind of the Father because of His Sweet Spirit who comes to live with us and let us in on the secrets of God (I Cor. 2:9-12). And we can know that God is for us, not against us and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). We have good reason to be happy! They have good reason to be unhappy because they are missing out. Unhappy people treat other people badly. The sad thing is, they don't know the answers to their dilemma unless someone can show them. They are in darkness and don't understand what makes them stumble That is our part. There is no guarantee that they will receive it; but they might. Praying for them that the blindness that keeps them from seeing the Truth is important (II Cor. 4:1-6.)