23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:23–26 (ESV)
There is a call for Christ’s servants to be unconditionally patient. If any of those whom you wish to come to Christ decides to choose to become your enemy, you cannot reciprocate their anger. Instead, return it with patience and continue to teach His love in words and in deed.
Too often, I am overcome with a lot of emotion that causes me to say things that I end up regretting, or making decisions that I otherwise could not take back. Often, I am taken over by my desire to see them upright and correct them so passionately that I end up being interpreted as angry. As a result, I lose their trust in confiding with me, and in turn, I get frustrated and offended.
I am reminded how it’s not my job to radically change people. It’s not my job to make them repent. It is through His love, His radical and perfect love, and their conscious decision that they are led to repentance. He reminds me not to be disappointed with people, but to love them without conditions. It is instead my responsibility to fight hate with love. It is my responsibility to fight anger with calm and gentle correction, so that they may feel the love of the Father through me.
