Encouragement

---

Looking For The Good
© 2008

by

Stephen A. Peterson


“Dumb, stupid, idiotic Marine!” remarked Chief Petty Officer Terry Butler as a small compact car splashed muddy water on his just cleaned and pressed white uniform. “Marines always drive they’re trying to get to a beer party. They never consider the other guy! As he boarded the ship ordered to the Middle East, he learned differently. The offending driver turned out to be the ship’s and Petty Officer Butler’s Captain, a twenty-five year Navy man!

The above incident is a reminder of how often we all are guilty of making generalizations. To assume something is so because someone is female or male, young or old, black or white, learned or not so intelligent is sloppy thinking at best, down right ignorance at worst. The Bible is full of examples of such human indiscretions that demonstrate the consequence of prejudicial thinking.

If you recall, Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh because he looked down upon its citizens as unworthy of his person. In John, Philip’s friend Nathaniel, in a less than palatable condescending manner, remarked about Jesus, “Can there be any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip’s response to the statement was, “Come and see for yourself.”

It is Christlike to look for the good in others, not the bad or wicked. If a person says they are a follower of the Master but consistently makes or has negative comments about people or a person that cannot be support, he or she is not following Christ’s command to love as He loves each one individually regardless of their condition or station in life. Unconditional love is kind, understanding, forgiving with no strings attached. Dispense with love this very day in all that you say and do not just towards the one you like but those you do not like or may be in conflict with. The likelihood is you will receive unconditional love in return perhaps in abundance!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE