Tuesday, April 7, 2015

It Takes God Power to Love Your Enemy

Matthew 5:44-45—But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

One of the hardest things to do is show compassion and love toward someone who is not being nice to us.  Our emotions get in the way and we focus on how terrible that person has made us feel.  Those negative emotions seem to take over and shadow out the love that God has placed in our souls.  We must be diligent about protecting and growing that gift of love.  Love is an action, it is a choice.  It is not often an easy choice, but it is a choice nevertheless.  We must keep in mind that God created all of us, and he sent His Son to die for all of us, and that He loves all of us – even those who don’t hear, see, or believe in Him.  It is not our job to declare who is a child of God or who is getting into Heaven – Jesus said He came to save us all, and He asked His Father to forgive us all.  Even Jesus reserved passing judgment by saying only His Father in heaven could do that. He chose to love, and He left us such a perfect example of how to love.  Perhaps the only way for some people to see God is when we love despite our own instinct to run away and hide.  This gift of love, it’s not meant to be hidden, it cannot be extinguished – but it must be nurtured so that it may grow and shine out.  After all, it is easy to love someone who loves you back – it takes God-power to love your enemy.


Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the God of Love.  Thank Him for filling you with His Holy Spirit and His perfect love.  Pray that you would be a worthy vessel to shine His Love into this world.  Pray that He would guide you in choosing to love those who hurt you.  Ask Him for strength and wisdom as you nurture His gift of love.

No comments:

Post a Comment