I Don't Like 'Ugly'!

I don't like 'ugly' and I'm pretty sure God doesn't either. Let me clarify what I mean by 'ugly'. When I say I don't like 'ugly' I mean that I don't like meanness and rude behaviour. I don't like the hatefulness some people seem to make part of their every day life. The hatefulness is never directed towards themselves but is always directed towards someone else, usually behind their back, and that's just 'ugly'.

 What's even worse is when you see Christians acting 'ugly'. Do they honestly think that God condones such behaviour? What, suddenly He is blind to 'ugly'? No, He isn't and I believe it grieves His heart to see His children acting so poorly. The Word tells us to: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Then it says in Luke 6:35: But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 

Did you see that last line? It says "for HE is KIND to the ungrateful and evil". If God can be kind to even those who are not kind to Him then He expects us to do the same. He doesn't tell us in His Word to be kind only to those who are kind to us, no, He expects us to be kind always because when we do we will reflect His nature and that's what He expects of us.

There is an old saying that is attributed to Abraham Lincoln which says: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time." You can put a sweet, kind face on but God knows your heart and He sees all those 'ugly' things you do that maybe no one else catches. You know what I mean, the little sighs when someone says something you think is stupid or the roll of the eyes when you are acting superior to them, the wink and chuckle behind your hand. Yes, God sees behind the mask you show others. He sees 'ugly'. 

The Bible tells us that we are only hurting ourselves when we act 'ugly'. Proverbs 11:17 tells us "a man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself." We cannot expect God to bless us if we are not being kind. When we are 'ugly' or cruel we remove ourselves from God's blessing. 

So instead we are to 'put on' compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Colossians 3:12: "put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience."

When we 'put on' these characteristics it means that we are intentional about doing these things. No one sets out to be 'ugly' towards others, but it can happen gradually until it becomes a terrible habit. The only way to get rid of 'ugly' is to confess it, repent of it and intentionally 'put on' these characteristics found in Colossians 3:12. When these are part of our every day intention, our every day life, we won't have room for 'ugly'.

Let me finish this by sharing these two final Scriptures:

Ephesians 4:29 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Romans 11:22 

Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.