Monday, April 11, 2011

Love thy WHAT???

I wish someone would just give me that easy, cookie cutter, answer to loving your enemies! Man....even when I try, it can be really difficult at times. I admit, I'm not good at it. I can get good at it when healing within begins to happen, but when someone picks and picks and picks away at me on purpose, I can feel that love start to fade away. Surely I'm not alone in this.
I've tried to find something to love, but again, it can be difficult when a person really does everything possible to make you miserable. It's such a sad situation.

I know one of the only ways to do this is to let Jesus transform my heart into something that is not there right now. I want to obey the greatest command and these others that I have read:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34).

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it (1 Corinthians 4:12).

I don't want to be that person in 1 John 2:9-10 that lives in darkness.

I've tried so hard for so long to be Jesus to those that mistreat me. Maybe I'm not doing it right? I suppose they don't see Jesus in me.
I think it's highly possible to have enemies...to have people that mistreat me...but does that make it okay? What if that person always has to be right no matter what? I will never win.

When I take a step back and look I realize it's okay to have enemies. Jesus had enemies. He dealt with it in such a calm manner. I've tried to understand my enemy, but it doesn't help. I've tried to love, but they continue to hurt me. I try not to take things personally and realize, they just need help and I'm not the one to give it.

I'm striving to love my enemies. I have realized, they are going to hurt me. I realize, they may not know better. I realize, I can't change them. I realize, it's not about me. I realize, it's still going to hurt.

But this is the kind of love I want to have/give to everyone. I'm just praying that God helps me with that. Even having just 1 enemy that you find it hard to love, is 1 too many.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).