Sandpaper People

I’ve been restoring a damaged piece of furniture this week. Sanding smooth the imperfections reminds me how God uses abrasive people in my life to restore me.

You know the type of people I’m talking about. They say and do things that rub you the wrong way. It’s much easier to avoid them than engage them.

So how does Jesus tell us to treat the hard-to-love person who feels like sandpaper to your soul?

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! …Love your enemies! Do good to them… Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭32‬,33,35‬ ‭

Really Jesus—be kind to the wicked? That’s impossible!

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭27‬ ‭

When Jesus says, “Even sinners love those who love them,” He is saying to us, “Don’t you know I want you to be more than a mere sinner? I am giving you a new identity, not as sinner, but as saint. I am going to put a love in you for all people—even your worst enemy. Once I get inside you, you will no longer be a mere mortal. You will be like Me.”

Jesus didn’t say it would be easy. He knew it would be impossible to love irritating people through human effort.

This is why He said to wait until you receive the Holy Spirit. He makes the impossible possible. He is the One who empowers us to love hard-to-love people.

Think about it. How did Jesus love the people who were driving nails through his hands and feet—who whipped him mercilessly—who crammed a crown of thorns into his skull?

Jesus didn’t rely on human effort. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had 24-7 access to the Holy Spirit’s power and love.

And so do we.

The carpenter from Nazareth is in the restoration business and we are His workmanship. I know He is still working on me as “He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3. Sandpaper people are one of His refinishing tools.

So thank God for the abrasive people in your life. See them through His eyes and love them as Christ loved you.

Remember …

“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭.