Important note:

This article is a Christian's view to another Christian because I'm concerned about the way we sometimes come across to the one who doesn't agree with us.

“How does he dare to speak with me like that!” A friend of mine caught a wave of righteous anger toward a waiter who flirted with her.

“I didn’t notice anything unusual,” I answered, looking at the man who brought us drinks and was now walking back to the front of the cafe.

A lot of my friends are passionate about Jesus and the life He taught us to live. It’s a good thing to live by a standard! We are called to be a light that shines.

Sadly, we start to expect that the entire world changes together with us. Of course, that never happens. Unrealistic expectations we project cause much frustration.

We see that people in the world don’t make the best decisions. They don’t understand a simple principle like thinking about the other person before you make a decision. When will they get ahold of the reality?

Then God showed me a healthier view.

There’s a perspective we can live by that protects our hearts. It helps to expect less and start loving someone without conditions. This knowledge sets us free from frustration towards those that don’t live the way we do.

Programmed to act

Everyone and everything acts in accordance with their nature. Trees have one nature, cats another.

Every action of a creature or a being stems from their nature. Even if you train your dog to greet every guest with the right paw, he still thinks about a treat he might get. He’s not interested in greeting a person as humans do.

A dog will always act like a dog, a plant will do what a plant does. It’s the programming that dictates the actions and outcomes.

Have you ever wondered, “why don’t some people act like humans?”

Although all the creatures act in accordance with their pre-programming we have a secret ingredient in the mix that sets us apart. It’s called free will.

We don’t have a predetermined instinct for everything we do. Humans are free to choose between an array of options and outcomes.

Sinners and saints

The biggest decision a human being makes is a choice of faith. For 2000 years, some people have chosen to trust Christ, others to reject Him. A single decision determines a person to be a sinner or a saint.

[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2, KJV, brackets mine)

I would even argue that there are no sinners like there were in the old testament. Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world. The only sin that separates sinners from eternal life is unbelief in Jesus.

We as believers are sometimes quick to judge. We know the higher standard, what’s fair and what God likes.

Do those who don’t believe in Jesus know all these things? Not fully! They don’t understand the value of a human, the identity and the importance of what Jesus did for them.

Knowing the love of God empowers selflessness. Without Jesus there’s a natural tendency to loveless selfishness.

Unbelievers act like unbelivers. It's sad but natural that broken people hurt others.

We shouldn’t expect unbelivers to act like believers just as Christians shouldn’t be just like the world.

As soon as I understood this principle, I was set free from being frustrated. This revelation changed my angry and bitter heart and filled it with compassion and patience towards everyone that doesn’t treat me right or doesn't do the right things in my view.

The great privilege

We are not going to move this world by criticism of it — nor conformity to it — but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.

— Vance Havner

He is the One who transforms people. He changes perspectives, heals lives and relationships, gives us wisdom and understanding.

Jesus reminds us that we were created to portray the image of God.

When Jesus was asked if it’s lawful to pay the taxes to Caesar, He asked to show Him a coin.

They brought it, and He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him. (Mark 12:16–17, ESV)

We are to pay taxes without allowing our hearts to be occupied by the love of money. Even more, we are to give ourselves to the One whose image we bear.

On top of that, it’s our great privilege to show love to the broken person and by this bring healing. We get to introduce people to God who created and loves them.

Let’s look at the world through different eyes. It’s time to release the expectations for things to be perfect. People are growing in pain and brokenness.

Let's see the value of their lives and love them without conditions, reasons or expectations. Remember, Jesus was the first one who did that for us.

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