Matthew 5:43-48
“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.
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
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.
There are a lot of so-called child experts who say if a small child bites you, bite him/her back. “They need to understand how this feels,” the experts tell us. And you may agree. My opinion is that biting a child who bites only sets up a contest to see who can bite the hardest – or who is stronger. If the child happens to stop biting as a result, I believe this is merely coincidence. Equally as many “experts” will tell you that “the punishment must fit the crime,” which is why I am personally opposed to spanking. Does hitting a child for hitting someone – or for any other misbehavior – really do anything except “show him/her who is boss?”
Let’s be honest, we learn very quickly to retaliate when challenged. Just watch a few toddlers at play. You’ll see biting, hitting, scratching, and more in order to claim a position as “Top Dog.” If we do not take measures early on to instill in children a sense of loving one another, sharing, and showing kindness even when we don’t want to, we soon end up with youngsters who have learned to feel – and exhibit – disdain for their “enemy.”
Don’t misunderstand me… showing love and kindness toward someone who has offended or hurt us in some way is really, really hard. I have encountered several people in my lifetime that I found it very difficult to pray for and offer compassion. Certainly, as we hear more and more about bullies among us – in all age groups – we see that there are some pretty unlovely and unlovable people out there! But as Christians, we are better than this… by God’s grace. We who are completely unlovely ourselves… filled with sin and totally unworthy of God’s love… are shown incredible grace, mercy and compassion by our Heavenly Father. And we must pass this on to others in our path.
The writer of these verses is right… it is time to grow up in our faith. If we claim to be heirs to God’s kingdom, we have to act like them. We must exhibit the same love and kindness that God bestows upon us to everyone in our midst… not just to those who are nice to us. It may take some time to get this right, but we have to try… and with God’s help, we can do it. Ask Him to give you strength and courage…to fill you with His Holy Spirit and equip you with grace, mercy, and true tenderness for your fellow man. Practice this every day. Learn to love your friends…and your enemies… and live out your God-created identity.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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