JD’s challenge from Sunday morning to apply this to “everyone” “always” gets right at the heart of why it can be so hard to do good to one another. It’s easier to let defense mechanisms and self-protection control who and when I do good to instead of doing so freely.
Colossians 3:13 also states this idea so clearly and God has used it to show me how to “make allowance” for others in my life. I’ve been practicing this by thinking about grace as actual “allowance” I can set aside ahead of time in order to accept faults (mine & others’) at the start of each day. I’ve found that as I do so and pray for God’s help in receiving people instead of reacting out of frustration, I notice a deeper well of love that I can pull from in order to do good to others.
As we start off a new day and week (and month), how can you make allowance for those in your life? Is there forgiveness you need to receive from God before sharing it with those around you?