Prickly Pears

It’s difficult to love abrasive, defiant people. But there’s a story behind every behavior. People are a culmination of their unique experiences. Their history will shed light on why they act the way they do and how they became who they are today. If we take a moment to look beyond their negative behaviors, we just might uncover a soul that’s hurting and crying out for help.

Brash people may have suffered mistreatment in their lives, and they’re at a point where they can’t forgive. They may hold a truckload of bitterness, resentment, and hatred because of it, and it spews out onto everyone who passes by. Others have hurt them badly and now they want others to pay for it. So they project all their pain and resentment onto everyone around them.

Our first reaction to these prickly ones is to run away. But what if we are the only ones who’ll give them a moment of precious time? What if it ends tragically if we don’t intervene?

God wants us to love them unconditionally. We never know what people are dealing with until we take the time to get to know them. The more we spend time with them, the more we will learn about their back story. Then we can bond with them, build a solid relationship, and create a pathway to show them the love of God.

That’s what it’s all about. We need to reach out to the lost, bring comfort, grace and healing to those in pain, and show them the unconditional love of Jesus. If we step up and be His ambassador, perhaps we may play a pivotal role in saving someone’s life, both physically and spiritually.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:41-45

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

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