When you turn around 40 or 50, or 60, or 70 and you realize that most people, or at least it seems that most people, are

Flakey or

Too Needy or

Annoying or

Selfish or

Proud or

Greedy or

Insensitive or

Ignorant,

in order to keep the tender heart from becoming cold and calloused, I must see all these flaws in myself also, and remember the great mercies our Father in Heaven has bestowed upon me and is still bestowing upon me (in all these areas). If I don’t, I will start unconsciously despising people - people, in general…all of humanity. Why is it that we see posts of someone doing something decent for someone and hear them say, “My hope in humanity is restored?” That tells me that many people have given up on people. But, for the Christian, to give up on people is to stop following Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is all about people. That’s why Jesus came - to live, to suffer, to die for. imperfect people - to bring us back to God. And even today, He is loving us - praying for us (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34), and even enjoying us in spite of all our imperfections and flaws.

If I’m not about people, as He is, then I’m not in sync with Jesus. If I’m not joining Him in His love for all people, all flakey, needy, annoying, selfish, proud, greedy, insensitive and ignorant people, then I’m simply not following Him. And, if I’m not following Jesus, who then am I following? God so loved people that He sent His Son to redeem us. Are you in sync with God. Are you following Jesus?

Here’s my loving encouragement: Keep your heart thrilled about people, and the prospect each day of joining Jesus in His lavish love for all people. It’s the way we “keep our lamps burning;” not just tolerating, but loving people sincerely, from the heart. How do we fill our lamps with oil? The oil is produced by embracing people in their flakeyness, neediness, annoyingness, selfishness, pride, greed, insensitivities and ignorance. How? The same way the Lord has embraced you, and is still embracing you in your flakeyness, neediness, annoyingness, selfishness, pride, greed, insensitivity and ignorance. Haven’t been feeling His embrace lately? Maybe because you think it’s earned. It’s not. It’s a mercy and grace embrace, just because you are his greatest creation: a human being. If you don’t see these flaws in yourself it’s because of a beam in your eye that needs to be removed with some humility and gratitude, as you bask in His mercy and grace. I guarantee you’ll feel His embrace again.

Whatever age you are, (I’m going on 74), keep your love in sync with Jesus – not just for those who are easy to love, but especially for the difficult ones - or you’ll turn out to be a grumpy old man or woman…bitter, cynical, and full of yourself. There’s still time no matter what age you are.

P.S. For all those “busy for the Lord” “ministers, please reread 1 Corinthians 13. The first few verses are all about “ministry” without love.  Then Paul tells us how to love flaky, needy…(etc.) people: patience, kindness, bearing, believing, hoping and enduring. The Apostle John said, “…If anyone says ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…” (1 John 4:20a). Too many “ministers of the Gospel” are using their gifts well, but are secretly (and sometimes unknowingly) despising people. But here’s some good news: all it really takes is answering an honest question: “Lord, am I in sync with You in Your love for (fill in the blank). And, if not, simply ask the Lord to help you make the choice and then to help you follow through.

“..work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12b, 13).

Keep your heart tender toward people; you’ll not only finish your race well, but you won’t turn into a grumpy old man or woman.