1Co 13:1-13 Luk 6:27 -36
Love Your Enemies
Love your enemies, really? That’s a tall order. Do good to them who would do you harm! Ouch! I remember when I first heard these scriptures preached. I wondered, almost out loud, why would I do that! Why would I treat people who hate me better than they’ve treated me? People all over the world must wrestle with this question. Some teachings are so hard to follow but does that make them null and void? Just because I say climbing those stairs is too hard, does that mean I should never try?
Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Ok now, that’s too hard. Being as merciful as God is beyond any mans’ reach, right? Paul said, even if I have the gift of prophecy and know all Biblical mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have great faith, without love… it’s useless… Even if I give away everything I have to others, or give my body to be burned or crucified and don’t have love, I’m just a noise in Gods’ ear. Love is invisible to the human eye. Love suffers great losses and counts the loss as trash because the greatest treasures mean nothing without the loved one. Love gets moms out of bed every morning to care for children who are not always grateful. Love inspires great kindnesses done secretly for the joy it brings the receiver. Love reaches out to the untouchables to leave their fingerprints on a wounded heart. Love stands for hours serving food at soup kitchens all over the world. When asked, Love says I was running errands when God knows you visited the sick lady down the street. Sadly, not everyone is genuine. Some are like artificial plants. They are a beautiful green. They are shaped perfectly. They are a delight to look at but there’s no aroma, there’s no root, and most of all there is no life!
Where there is no love, God is absent! God is love. I’m sure you’ve met people who seem to have it all together. They talk about faith and give so much, at least in their own opinion. Thier speech gives them away. They talk more about what they’ve done for God and others, and very little about anyone else’s contribution. How is it possible to have all this faith, be so generous, and still be just a clanging noise to God? 1Co 13:4 teaches us that Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not brag, it is not puffed up, and it’s not rude. Love doesn’t boast about what or how much we’ve given and doesn’t seek recognition or fame. It never gives to be seen or to get that much back.
Love doesn’t rejoice when someone is punished for sin. Love prays for their forgiveness and encourages repentance for their sake. Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Some have given large amounts of money to get it back in tax refunds. Helping to get bragging rights isn’t love! Love is blind. It doesn’t keep track of wrongs or faults. Love keeps no mental scoreboard to ensure they are rewarded for what they give. They give for the joy of giving!
Jesus had, and still has a doctrine. If it could be given a title – it would be called The Way of Love! I could almost hear Him say, walk this way. Not in a particular direction, but walk in a spiritual lifestyle. We shouldn’t love religiously. We shouldn’t love with reservations. We should love as Jesus loved.
Leave a comment