Loving Differently!

Loving Differently!

“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. LUKE 6:27‭-‬28 AMP

It always starts with a personal decison; it is always about what I choose to do. God will and is always speaking, but he does not impose his will on me; he would want me to come to Him willingly, because I can only get his best, which is His will for me, if I just surrender control to Him. Today's focus is on love and the instructions are for only those who choose to listen. I can hear but the difference will always be on how I listen. The parable of the sower makes much sense in this regard: all kinds of ground received the Word, but reception and response made the difference to the fruits that followed the sowing.

And when you are dealing with God, expect the unexpected. God asks me to love my enemies, people who may have sworn to kill me. We talk about reciprocating love, where it is easy for me to love people who love me in return. Unfortunately, where I stand now isn't because I loved God first, but because He first loved me. If that is what I have received, then it is expected that the same love flow out of me to other people. Just as I didn't deserve it then, so would other people not deserve it for me to show them love. I love not because I get something in return, but because it is the natural outflow from a heart that appreciates what it has received.

And the same theme runs through the entire extract. The target of my love, prayer, blessing or kindness don't have to earn it; I only have to show it if I have got it. If what I hold is the genuine article, it cannot be suppressed or denied. Could it be that my struggle to obey God fully is a result of areas yet to be fully surrendered to Him? Could it be that the reason why I struggle with loving 'undeserving' people is because I do not yet fully appreciate who I was before the love of God found me?

Nowhere does God promise it will be easy, but he assures me of his never-failing presence. If God gives a command, I rest on the assurance that He will not leave me to struggle with obedience on my own. He will release grace to help me obey and show off his grace to others. That's how hearts are won back to God: by examples that show God's heart in all its fullness. Do I know who I am? His time of favour is here.