Colossians 3:13 NLT

“Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

We all have somebody who gets on our last nerve: a coworker, a family member, maybe even somebody at church. It's easy to love people in general. It's a lot harder to love that one person who keeps rubbing you the wrong way or who hurt you somewhere along the line. And if we're honest, most of us have a list in our heads of people we've quietly given up on.

The Greek word Paul uses for "make allowance" simply means to patiently put up with someone. It means I don't walk away from you because of your faults. It means you get on my nerves, and I stick with you anyway. Jesus used that same word when He said to His disciples, "How long must I put up with you?" And He kept putting up with them. He puts up with you and me every single day. When you remember how patient Jesus has been with you, it gets a lot harder to give up on somebody else.

So, here's your challenge this week. Think of one person you've been keeping at arm's length. Don't just think nice thoughts about them. Do something. Send a text, make a call, say a kind word, or pray for them by name every day this week. Making allowance isn't calling wrong right. It's choosing not to give up on somebody God hasn't given up on. When Jesus changes your life, He changes how you see people.

Just a thought,

PSS