Devotionals
Matthew 5:43 - 48 - Difficult Love
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies Pray for those who persecute you! 45 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. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. NLT
I believe I have covered the topic of loving your enemies. It’s what makes us different, or at least we are suppose to act different.
I like to say “the true measure of Christian is to Love those who don’t love you.” If we can do this, we can say we’ve arrived. I don’t think I am any where close.
Praying for them is the best place to start. With out this step from verse 44 it is not going to happen. Love doesn’t come by accident. To love those who aren’t crazy about you, is not a natural thing. It takes Prayer, the Word of God, and Patience. Then a little more prayer.
The Fruit of Spirit is only applicable when we show it during less than pleasant circumstances.
Like verse 46 says, event those who don’t know Christ can do this much. So to be showing good fruit, that truly tells the world that we are different, it needs to be toward those who don’t give a rip about us.
When we can love and forgive the ones who want us destroyed, and then we are like Christ. After being beaten for hours, spit on, lied about, and rejected, Jesus hung on a cross for all of our sins. He used one of his last humanly breaths to forgive the very ones who were in the process of mocking him. That’s right, even as they mocked him, he forgave.
Even when we were worthless and have no reason to be forgiven, Jesus reaches out to us and gave us his Grace and Righteousness. He declares us not guilty.
Are or were we any better than those who you can’t seam to get along with? Not really. They probably just need to have Jesus and his grace. Until that happens, you need to show the other Fruit; Patience. Do not let them under your skin. It doesn’t mean you have to hang out with them, unless the Holy Spirit is telling you to. Just show kindness and gentleness to them, when you are around them.
Remember this will probably take a lot of prayer.
Prayer is good for you.
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