Discipling the Undisciplined no. 15

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48). Love and beauty. That is the life of Jesus. Loving those that we don’t want to love. Loving those that make it difficult for us to love. That’s living life like Jesus. Love and beauty.

BUT it is not that easy though it is that simple. Living a life where I forgive and love is difficult. I like to be righteous and want to repay the wrongs I feel were dealt unfairly to me. BUT beauty is found in loving even when I am wronged, especially when I am wronged.

I just have to think back to the Exodus story and how many times that the descendants of Israel wronged God. And then look at my own life and see how many times I have wronged God. And then look at how God, despite all the wrongs, still loves me. And loves me enough to make a way through His grace to reconcile and become at one. That is one humbling thought I always need to keep in mind when folks do things that make them out to be my enemy. I have to find the humility to forgive. I have to find the strength to love when it is so much easier to hate.   

Grace and Shalom to your home. 

#DisciplingTheUndisciplined #ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherInLove #NotMyWayYHWH