Remember...

Hebrews 13:3 "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."


I've been reading Hebrews, a lot lately, and this seemingly little verse kept coming to the forefront every time I read chapter 13.  I so easily get caught up in my own world with my own problems and concerns, I so easily get tunnel vision and not see the people around me.  I get easily annoyed when I am inconvenienced or held up.  Why is that?  Why do I struggle at times to love other people?  I think it maybe for several reason?


1. I forget where I came from.  
I'm so thankful for the people who took an interest in my life, both the good times and especially the bad times.  I fail to remember that I wouldn't be were I'm at if it weren't for the help of other people.


2. I forget what Christ did for me
I could probably spend several paragraphs here but the bottom line is I forget the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus did for me on the cross.  He made the ultimate sacrifice for me and yet as time goes by I can loose the weight of that if I'm not careful and become very flippant.


3. I forget that He loves them also
If I'm truly honest with myself…I'm selfish.  I get so easily wrapped up in myself that I forget that God wants to use me to show His love to others.  That His heart breaks for those who aren't in a relationship with Him.  Yet I'm to busy?  So thankful He wasn't that way with me so why do I find myself, more often than I like to admit, with other?


4. I forget where they're coming from
The verse states, "as if you were there yourself…as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."  The next time someone cuts me off, takes a long time in the check out lane, takes to long to order there coffee or gives me an attitude …I need to ask myself some questions. What kind of day are they having?  How is there home life with their spouse, parents, siblings?  What kind of stress do they have at work?  Do they even have a job or are they barely making ends meet?


My prayer today and everyday is that God will help me remember what He did for me.  That He will help me to see people not only thru His eyes but also through there eyes.  


How about you…Do you struggle to love others?  What are some of your reasons and how can you change?