2 Thessalonians 2:16 – Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
Out of sheer insecurity and low self-esteem, Rose functioned as a much-hated manager. She threw her weight around, was mean and unkind to her subordinates and cared less about her superiors and colleagues. Then one day, she met with an ill-fated accident. As expected, no one cared much about it except Sara- Rose’s punching bag. The God-loving Sara knew that it was at times like these that one could reflect Christ-like attitude. Sara spent time with her in the hospital, prayed with her and gave her hope.
Being courteous involves looking beyond our own interests, paying attention to the needs of others, and offering time, energy, and patience in an effort to be helpful. Sounds tough! But God’s word offers several good reasons why we should be courteous.
Lovingkindness is mentioned throughout the Bible as a characteristic of God. Since we are to be imitators of God, one reason to practice courtesy is to cultivate the gift of lovingkindness in our relationships.
When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus also gave us a second one: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving people includes being polite to them and meeting their needs.
If we seek to live as Jesus did, the Holy Spirit will equip us with the gifts we need to be loving and courteous to others.
