LIFE LESSONS SERIES: "Because I can!"

People don't look for reasons to treat you badly, disrespect and/or hurt you. Sadly, it seems to be more automatic behavior for some people to easily mistreat others. Even those who profess salvation. People don't look for reasons to mistreat, disrespect or hurt others; yet they look for reasons to be courteous, respectful and polite, etc. For some, it doesn't take any effort at all to mistreat someone but it takes more effort in finding a reason or reasons to be respectful, considerate or courteous to others. I purposely am not using the term "nice" because I will say that "kind" and "nice" are two very different behaviors. Kind is intrinsic from the heart and nice is extrinsic outwardly for personal satisfaction or selfish gain. This is a topic for another day and yet another blog. Some people treat you badly (inconsiderate, disrespectful, impolite, etc.) simply because they think they can! That's their reasoning. I actually heard a person say that to me, one day. When asked why they mistreat people, they also respond, "I don't know why." This seems to be a tactic to quickly dismiss the negative behavior and turn focus and attention onto blaming the victim. After mistreating me at work, I clearly remember asking a coworker, "Why did you do that to me?" The person answered and laughed, "Because I can." I thought they were joking, but sad to say, they weren't because the person tried the same disrespect again, but it didn't work. I clearly understood that person took my kindness for weakness and chose to distance myself from them. There are many people who take kindness for weakness, so much so, the bully, tyrant, persecutor, oppressor, or the like, has become very comfortable and feel empowered taking no consideration nor accountability while instead blaming their victim(s). Beware of those who mistreat others just because they think they can. And yet, God shows me myself...how my treatment of others is a direct reflection of my actions and behavior towards Him. What a revelation! Lord Lord Lord!!! We also treat the lovingkindness and tender mercies of God the same way. No good will come of it, beloved. GOD loves us too much to allow for our misbehavior to continue towards one another and ultimately towards Him, IF we choose His way in following JESUS CHRIST. The precious verses in Matthew 25 says, "³² And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³ And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ⁴³ I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ⁴⁴ Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? ⁴⁵ Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Just because a person may show naivety/innocence, kindness, meekness, humbleness, doesn't mean it's open season for constant mistreatment, abuse, bullying, physical and mental harm, or taking advantage of that person. I think it says a lot about a person's character and heart, who decides to mistreat others because they think they can. We hurt only ourselves. In relation, while mistreatment towards others is automatic, there are some who feel they need a reason or reasons to treat others respectfully, carefully, and courteously. We love conditionally. Why is that? If there is no valid reason to mistreat someone, why do you need a valid reason to be courteous, kind toward others? When we ask ourselves and others, at times, "why won't you help them?" Some reply, "Why should I ? What have they done for me?" God can say the same to each of us, when we pray and ask Him for help, love, mercy, grace. We must search our hearts deeply. Congregational song says, Search me, search me LORD; search me, search me LORD; shine Your light from heaven on my soul; Oh LORD, and if You find anything that shouldn't be, take it out and strengthen me; I want to be right, I want to be saved, I want to be whole. God's word says, He doesn't always give us what we deserve for our sins! Psalm 103:8-10 says, "8The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." We tread on very dangerous ground thinking we can cause harm and mistreat others just because we think we can. LORD help us all in Jesus name. My Mom, Evangelist and Prophetess Mattied Hollis told me while growing up, "You can't love without the Holy Ghost." Therefore, we tarried (as Jesus told his disciples) in our church and at home until we were endued with the Holy Ghost power from on High. My Mom taught me and my siblings to love God, first and love one another. God's word tells us, Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" We are not to mistreat or take advantage of others in any way. I humbly say, I need JESUS in the Holy Spirit of God to do His will and to treat others the way He says for us to do...showing mercy, grace, peace, and lovingkindness towards all, as God has given unto all. John 3:16, "¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God has given us precious LIFE through Jesus Christ our LORD. He shines on us daily with His precious LOVE. Many of us do not understand the LOVE OF GOD! Perhaps a topic for the next blog on another day. We need the Holy Ghost in Jesus name, so that we can live according to the Word of God. I am not speaking on this topic as one of mastery but as one who is learning of Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.