Are You Dealing with an E.G.R.P.?

Those E.G.R.P.s can drive you crazy, but take heart. 

By Dawn Ford

We all have a least one “E.G.R.P" in our life; an Extra Grace Required Person.  You know the one that drives you a little crazy, gets on your last nerve.  You can meet them anywhere.  Work, the grocery store, maybe even in your own home. 

Unfortunately, we don’t get off the hook with God when we are called to love everyone.  Everyone means everyone.  Even the E.G.R.P’s.  Gulp. Even our enemies.

Love is not a feeling.  It’s a choice.  An action word.

“...let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love,” 1 John 4:7-8.  

God is the Source

We can’t do this on our own.  As mere humans we don’t have the capacity, but as Christ followers, God is the source of our love.  He loved us so much, He gave us His one and only son.   If God never did another thing for us, He gave us the greatest gift we could ever receive; the gift of eternal life.

Jesus is the Example

Jesus is a perfect example of how we should love others.  While we will never be perfect, we can look to Him as a model.  He gave up his throne, put on skin and walked among us.  He lived through ever possible emotion, felt every possible victory and suffered every possible defeat.  His life and death are all about His love for us and the love He has for His Father. Our only goal should be to be more like him. 

The Holy Spirit is the Power

The Holy Spirit gives us the power to agape (unconditionally) love one another.  He lives in our hearts, making us more Christ-like.  If we seek His guidance we will not only love others the way they deserve but, we may even pray for them, and have compassion for them.

Questions:

1.  Do you have an E.G.R.P in your life right now?  Why do you think God has them bugging you?

2.  What's one thing that you can do to love them?

Dawn Ford is VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries.  A non-profit dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ.  If you want to get involved or have Dawn speak at your next's women's event check out our website at Infinite Love Ministries. 

Photo from iStockPhoto.com