Forgiveness, love, hope were message of Jesus
Q: My neighbor claims to be a Christian, but he’s about the most negative and critical person I know. According to him everyone else is either stupid or wrong (or both), and I get tired of his constant complaining. Jesus wasn’t like this, was He? — S.G.
A: No, Jesus wasn’t like this; instead of putting people down, He sought to win them over by his love and compassion. We cannot be filled with Jesus’ love and still be proud or self-righteous. We cannot be filled with Jesus’ love and still be negative and critical. Nor can we be filled with Jesus’ love and yet despise those he came to save. The Bible says, “As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love” (2 John 6).
Pray for your neighbor, that he may repent of his negative attitudes and allow Jesus’ love to fill his life. Pray too that Christ will make you an example to others of his love. The Bible says, “Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).