Matthew 5:44-47
“You’re familiar with the old written
law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your
enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let
them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a
hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working
out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God
does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to
everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you
do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If
you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any
run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Let’s be honest…there is at
least one person in our lives who rubs us the wrong way. Whether or not
we consider him/her an “enemy” may be debatable…but this individual
makes us bristle with anxiety – or maybe even anger – every time we hear
his/her name mentioned. Perhaps you are bullied at school or in the
workplace. Maybe there is a politician or public official who makes
your blood boil. There may be people in your church or community who
get on your last nerve. You may have a few family members who you avoid
at all costs. And maybe other people feel this same way about YOU!
As
I read this passage today, I was hit between the eyes with the thought
that I seldom pray for my “enemies.” I don’t pray often – or fervently –
enough for that person who posts hate-filled political rants on social
media. I don’t pray for the terrorists around the world…the gang
leaders who are sending members to infiltrate our cities and introduce
our children to drugs…the busybody who makes it his/her mission to stir
up trouble in the church, school, social circles and the community…the
individual who abuses people or pets…and more. I don’t pray for children
who may not be nice to my kids…bosses who bully their employees…and
people who think they are better than everyone else.
As this
passage points out, it’s easy to love those who love us and agree with
us. It’s a no-brainer to pray for them and ask God to bless them and
meet their every need. But it’s HARD to pray for those who are
our “enemies” or upset us in some manner. It’s a real struggle to be
nice to the bully…or at the very least, refrain from saying unkind
things about hateful and hate-filled people…or to ask God to guard and
guide the person who hurt your child or another loved one. But this is
exactly what Jesus tells us to do in this passage.
If we want to truly follow Jesus, we have to really follow
Him. This means we must obey ALL of His commands…including the one to
love those who bring out the worst in us. I can think of a few people
that I need to add to my prayer list today. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No comments:
Post a Comment