Love. It is the month of love. Tomorrow, we will celebrate love with flowers and chocolates, parties and cards.
When Jesus came, He turned people’s definition of love on its head. Listen to what He says in Luke 6:27-38:
“27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
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.”
We as followers of Christ are to take love to a new level as we follow His example. We are to love our enemies, do good to the ones who hate us, bless them that curse us, and pray for those who despitefully use us. He mentions that if we love only those who love those who do good to them, we are loving as those who don’t know His love.
Woah.
He wants us to follow His example of love and love the “unlovable.” He wants us to love those who actually hurt us. Woah.
That does not come naturally at all, but is real love. The verses above go on to explain more ways to love others. All of it is an example of Christ’s love. Christ loved us while we were yet sinners. He also forgave those who killed Him as He was dying on the cross.
How can we show this kind of love to those around us in the midst of our pain, isolation, and weakness? I pray that God will show us how to demonstrate His love to the people He brings into our path.
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