4 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Exodus 3
Luke 6
Job 20
1 Corinthians 7
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:27-28 (CSB)
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
The verses that I have chosen today are commands that we would really like to overlook. They call us to do what is counterintuitive. It seems unnatural. Honestly, it seems unfair.
After all, when someone treats us unjustly, everything within us cries out for justice. We may not verbalize it but we find ourselves wishing that they would “get what’s coming to them.”
Yet, we are commanded to love those who have hurt us, do good to them, bless them, and pray (blessings) for them.
Why? Why would Jesus make us do such a thing? It seems so unfair.
I know within my own heart that there are a handful of names of people who have treated me or my wife horribly and I want to hold onto animosity toward them. It doesn’t seem to come natural to love them, or to do good to them, or to bless them, or to pray blessings for them.
Yet, I am thinking of one particular person right now who had something traumatic happen to her decades ago. And she never forgave the person she held responsible for the tragedy. What was the result? Decades later, bitterness had taken over. Her anger had fermented and everything she touched seemed to experience some of that bitterness.
So, even though Jesus’ command to love our enemies sounds impossible, we must seek to comply in the power of the Holy Spirit. If we don’t, we will suffer … while remaining lawbreakers.
God’s commands really are intended for our good!
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Lord Jesus, You have called me to love my enemies, to do them good, to bless them, and to pray for them. In doing so, I am demonstrating how You patiently love and do good to those who set themselves against You. But, it also will help me to remain emotionally healthy. Please help me to comply with this command for every single person that I consider to be my enemy. And I will desperately need You to help me to achieve a measure of success in this endeavor. Amen.
Matt’s Musings 