what to expect from the world

Today we read from Psalm 53:1-6 in the One Year Bible. The Psalmist tells us that "The fool believes in his heart that there is no god." And while we don't want to go around calling people fools, this is a helpful reminder for how we should treat those who aren't followers of Jesus.

Because Jesus makes us better people, right? He teaches us how to be kind and patient and loving and generous, right? So we should remind ourselves that those who are NOT followers of Jesus might be a little less kind, patient, loving, and generous than they would be if they followed Him.

So, like Jesus told us.... don't be surprised when the world hates you. Don't be shocked when they're rude or mean to you. Expect the world to be unloving and stingy. If they are actually kind, patient, loving, generous, or other fruits of the spirit to you, pleasant surprise! But if they act like people who don't know Jesus, then help them come to know Him by being those things back to them anyway.

Let's be Jesus to those who need Him, and expect them to act like sinners. After all, that's reality.

God, thanks for teaching us to expect sin from sinners, including ourselves. Help us love them the way You do.