Day 201 "Better to be humble and happy than to be right and bitter."

Day 201 Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” When reading this passage, there are six words in particular that stand out to me: "…love of many will grow cold." What is it that causes people to grow cold in their love? Having worked with many hundreds of people through many hundreds of issues, I would say that the biggest challenge facing people today is allowing themselves to grow cold to love or allowing their heart to become hard. I consider myself to be a somewhat patient man; it is actually very difficult for someone to upset me enough to confront them. For those who have been confronted by me in anger, they would surely disagree; however, the statement remains to be true. Yes, it does take time, but what is the trigger? You see, I don't generally confront people in anger until my love for them, because of my lack of fellowship with God, has grown cold. How does this happen, you ask? Our hearts generally grow cold when we have become selfish enough to think that everything revolves around us, that we and our needs are the most important things to be satisfied. You see, once we decide this, we suddenly have very little compassion or patience with those who challenge us or don't agree with us about the importance of our needs. In far too many marriages the heart has grown cold because of neglect, lack of intimacy, unresolved issues, or, yes, even unfaithfulness. We as human beings have an innate ability to throw up a preventive shield when we have made up our mind that someone intends to harm or betray us. Even in cases where we have hurt others, we often make up our mind that there is either no way they can, or should, forgive us for what we have done to them. Look again at verse 10: "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Because of offenses, many will become so angry with people that they will betray them–all in the name of vengeance. Yes, this passage, in particular, is speaking of the end times; however, does it not apply to us today? How often have we, out of hurt or selfishness, broken off relationships and harmed others and sometimes even forgotten why? Human nature is, in fact, to hurt others who have hurt you, yet God's nature is to have compassion on those who hate Him. It is love beyond all reason; love that never grows cold. It is love without bounds. To us, it makes little sense at times yet, to God, it is the only sensible thing. The end times will be tough enough without all of us hating each other and growing cold. Maybe today would be a good day to start warming up to those we have angered or that have angered us. By the way, the message will be preached, the gospel will be heard, all will be judged, and the end will come. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy the trip along the way a little more by letting go of those old grudges and not replacing them with new ones? Daily Prayer: Father, help me to a fence between men and death rather than an offense that could send them to their death. I pray for the strength to forgive and the humility to be able to ask forgiveness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. "Better to be humble and happy than to be right and bitter." Gene Burroughs, Pastor