I wonder how many people on Jesus' team were considered "HARD CASES", disrespectful, lost causes or not worth fooling with anymore?
And yet, somehow, Jesus was able to LOVE them unconditionally, correct them, forgive them of their backslidings, shape them & position them for His Kingdom assignment in their life.
I know what you're thinking, "well, I'm not Jesus." That may be true.
Just for a moment, look at John Mark. When Paul said, "I'm done with him!" (Acts 15:38) Barnabas came from another approach & basically said, "Let me work with him. Perhaps there's something left in him we can salvage."
Someone believed in John Mark. Someone was willing to give him more than once chance to get himself together.
We all need someone to BELIEVE in us, when we are less than what we're supposed to be. When we FALL SHORT, we must remember that God allows us space to REPENT and DO RIGHT. Obviously, it's easier to REPENT & DO YOUR FIRST WORKS OVER, when you forgive yourself & realize that people haven't given up on you either...regardless of what you've done.
Before you GIVE UP on someone, ask yourself, "If that was me, what would I want someone to do for me?"
A lot of times, people are MANIFESTING symptoms from hidden ROOTS. The reason they behave the way they do, isn't really the reason you think. There's probably more going on inside than anyone can see...and some of those things may go all the way back to their childhood. Before you get too OFFENDED at them, bear this in mind. Their "cry for attention" by ACTING OUT is sometimes a cry for HELP from anyone that has enough LOVE in them to BEAR THEM UP.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
I pray for you today to have wisdom & discernment to know how to deal with the HARD CASES in your life. Remember, you were once a HARD CASE too.
Selah.
