admin
09-20-2007, 11:36 AM
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
"You have heard that the law of Moses 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 on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48
One of the hardest things any of us will ever do is to forgive — and love — someone who has wounded us. Yet, that is exactly what Jesus expects from us. Ouch!
I don't know about you, but I have my share of people who have wounded me in one way or another. In most cases I can walk away unscathed, scarless, but those other times…well; I'm still working on some of those.
One person in particular I just can't seem to share. This person said and did things on a spiritual level that crushed my hope. Granted, I allowed it, but that didn't change the depth of how I was hurt. That person is a huge success right now. Blessings surround everything he does. So, there are times I wonder if maybe he was right and I was wrong.
Have I forgiven this person? I think so, I really think so. Yet, over and over I find him in my dreams in situations where he has major control over my life. Well, that's the way anger works. As long as we are angry with anyone, that person — whether they realize it or not — has control over us.
Although the words sound trite, it is best to "let go and let God" handle these situations and circumstances. He sees the big picture and all we have is a snapshot!
Heavenly Father, You know that I cannot love this person that hurt me so desperately in my own strength. I need Your strength to make it. Lord, there are so many people like him these days — spiritually successful in the eyes of the world, and maybe even in your eyes. Yet, the undermine what You are trying to do through the least of these. Help those of us who have experienced spiritual rejection love as You love, forgive as You forgive, and go on with the plans and purpose You have for our lives.
--Woes to Wows
"You have heard that the law of Moses 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 on the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48
One of the hardest things any of us will ever do is to forgive — and love — someone who has wounded us. Yet, that is exactly what Jesus expects from us. Ouch!
I don't know about you, but I have my share of people who have wounded me in one way or another. In most cases I can walk away unscathed, scarless, but those other times…well; I'm still working on some of those.
One person in particular I just can't seem to share. This person said and did things on a spiritual level that crushed my hope. Granted, I allowed it, but that didn't change the depth of how I was hurt. That person is a huge success right now. Blessings surround everything he does. So, there are times I wonder if maybe he was right and I was wrong.
Have I forgiven this person? I think so, I really think so. Yet, over and over I find him in my dreams in situations where he has major control over my life. Well, that's the way anger works. As long as we are angry with anyone, that person — whether they realize it or not — has control over us.
Although the words sound trite, it is best to "let go and let God" handle these situations and circumstances. He sees the big picture and all we have is a snapshot!
Heavenly Father, You know that I cannot love this person that hurt me so desperately in my own strength. I need Your strength to make it. Lord, there are so many people like him these days — spiritually successful in the eyes of the world, and maybe even in your eyes. Yet, the undermine what You are trying to do through the least of these. Help those of us who have experienced spiritual rejection love as You love, forgive as You forgive, and go on with the plans and purpose You have for our lives.
--Woes to Wows