“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." Matthew 5:43 - 48
Every time.
I like to argue with God on this one -
"But, they hurt my feelings."
"They are so unfair."
"I don't deserve to be treated that way."
"How can I love them Lord? They'll never change."
And that's precisely the point. Loving your enemies doesn't always change them - sometimes yes, God works a miracle in those relationships - but Loving your enemies isn't meant to change them.
It's meant to change you.
Me.
All of us who, because of our hurt pride dare to assume for even a moment that the person who hurt you doesn't deserve grace.
Christ died for ALL of us.
That means the un-lovely, the un-graceful, the spiteful, the mean-spirited, the jealous, the bullies.
Us.
Maybe we are called to love our enemies because somehow they've never known a kind word, a caring thought, an open heart that really accepts them for who they are. It's true you know, that old saying "hurting people, hurt people."
Yes, it's hard, this "loving your enemies". Showing kindness and a loving attitude to those who everyone else would say don't deserve it. Very hard.
But so was dying on a cross.
With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin
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