E-votional - Love'em All
September 6, 2001
Verse:
"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."

Luke 6:27-28 (NRSV)

 

Thought:

And she said, "how can I love them and forgive them, they will think I am weak and keep doing what they are doing." "Love them and forgive them because you can, all the while knowing they were not always so bitter or jaded. Somewhere along the line something happened in their life that made them feel like the only way they could feel good about themselves was to demolish and hurt another."

Hear the Good News, One thing that we all have inside of us, and that is a gift that truly comes from God is the ability to love and forgive. Through life we find there are certain things and actions that elicit responses from us. Reaction is an instinct found in everything. A sharp loud noise, and we flinch or blink. When we get hot, we sweat. If we smell something good, our hunger or desire to eat surfaces. Someone is kind to you, you smile and feel loved. Someone is mean or gruel to you, You back up. As we are found by God and develop a relationship with Him, we become less reactionary and more of an example of who God is and what God is about. So, those who hate you, they have not always been filled with this hate. By showing even those who hate, love, maybe, just maybe they will find what has been robbed from them in the past.

Prayer:
Gracious God, loving can be so hard. I witness the silent and invisible hate, all the while seeing the verbal and oh to visible hate as well. Loving can be so hard. I wonder how You are able to love us at times, yet You do. As I struggle to love those who hate, help me to be open to the pain in their life as well, that I might better understand them at the same time. Continue to bring to all of us both the strength and love necessary to be all You would have me be and do all You would have me do. Thank you Father, for all You have done and all You will continue to do in my life. Amen.