But the greatest of these is. . .

So I went to bed last night with a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. Just felt a sense of contentment in my situation in life, a deep faith in God's hand guiding me, and a confidence that things would work out for the best. This morning I approached the day with a sense of purpose. On the way to work I prayed and was prepared to attack any challenges that would arise, confident that God was going to make my paths straight and easy due to my unwavering commitment.

It took about 10 minutes for my smile to fade as the day regressed into Same Old Same Old. Customers nitpicking, whining, and cursing. Calls intruding on my time of thinking and planning. People wanting me to solve their problems without giving me a moment to focus on my own.

By the time lunch came, I knew I had to spend some time in God's word. And I went through, hoping he would give me some words of exhortation and encouragement. Perhaps reassure me that I'm more than a conqueror. That there was a plan in everything. That he was faithful to reaward a hard worker with a check for ten million dollars.

Instead, my devotions found me pushing through 1 John. And closing with 1 John 4:20-21:

If someone says "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Crap.

Instead of finding promises of how God was going to make my day easier, I find him awakening areas where I need to improve. Love does not come easy to me. I am not, by nature, a loving person. Oh, I love my friends. I'm a nice guy. But loving is tough.

Loving people means caring when they can't pay their bills and helping them find a solution. Loves mean gentleness and honesty. Love means never lashing out in anger. Love means enduring wrongs and still giving back.

In 1 John 4, and in John's Gospel, love is what is supposed to characterize Christians because God Himself is love. They will know us by our love, Jesus said. Our love for others is supposed to be modeled on Christ's love for us. And we all now how far that went.

And so now, in 20 minutes, I'll be logging back onto the phones. And instead of focusing on whether or not my customers will be in a good mood or whether or not the call volume will increase, I need to ask God to show me how to love each person who calls in.

Love ya!
C-Dubbs