The Most Powerful Trait That Should Characterize Every Christian

Have you been there?

You know, those times when you’re so overwhelmed, so angry, so hurt, so _______________ (fill in the blank).

I have.

And during those times, I can almost feel a physical response in my heart. Like a callous building or a wall of stone being erected.

Actually, a better analogy is that of a fire going out. What started off as a full flame slowly sizzles away before digressing to a dying ember.

The Trait That Should Characterize Every Christian

But no matter how pervasive the feeling of a fading fire, as Christ-followers we can’t allow ourselves to go there.

Why?

Because that fire going out is our heart growing cold. And cold hearts can’t love the way they’re supposed to.

Jesus put it this way: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

If there is any one quality that should characterize every Christian, it is most definitely love.

Too Easy To Go The Other Way

It’s so easy to give way to hate, especially when we’re scared and afraid and yes, even disgusted. It’s easy to look at the increase of wickedness and think, “Well, God’s not doing anything about it, so I might as well stop believing.” And in a roundabout way we blame God. In doing so, our love diminishes and grows cold.

Regardless of whether we like it or not, the increasing wickedness we see around us has been foretold for thousands of years. Right before He was unjustly accused, taken into custody, and hung on a cross, Jesus said this to His disciples: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Our Two Choices

The choice is ours. Love and peace. Or hate and strife.

Don’t get me wrong. We are never told to compromise with evil or to call evil good. In fact, we’re told just the opposite.

But it’s not our job to convict or to judge. That is solely the work of God.

Our job is to love.

So don’t let wickedness make you hate.

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