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Love your enemies. I mean, seriously, do I have to? I was skimming over my emails, catching up and cleaning out when I ran across the subject line, "Mean girls." It came from my daily (in)spire emails that I don't read daily. :)
I opened it up and then I read the whole, "Love your enemies" line - which is a direct command in the Bible so YES, I know I am supposed to be doing this but NO, I'm not doing a good job of it. How is that for honesty?
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:44
Yup. That's pretty direct. *sigh* So there are a few people I have serious hang ups about and I struggle with my ANGER towards them. They treated me horribly, unfairly, did their best to erode any self-worth I might have felt, any self confidence I dreamed of having. Why do I have to love them? GRRRR.... I just want to close my eyes and hope they disappear. (Of course, they don't and they pop up when I least expect it. But I'm a good Southern girl and I can put on a smile and be sweet and bless their little hearts with the best of them...)
Here is the deal, though - I've been told to love them. So there. No more discussion. Because let me assure you, it may have gone unnoticed by everyone in this world, but I promise it wasn't unnoticed by someone on a much bigger playing field and once I turn it over into His hands, he'll deal with it.
“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’” Romans 12:20
Lord, please help me understand how to love those I struggle to even like. Help me understand loving them doesn't require me involving them in my daily life, but instead forgiving them and letting it go. I'm not strong enough to forgive without You, so give me the strength I need here, guide me how to do this Your way and please let my heart heal under Your hand. :)
Want to know more about this email in my inbox? Visit http://www.incourage.me/ and check out their blog.
I have struggled with this concept in the past. However, I have come to believe that there are different *types* of love. I "love" my enemies in the sense that I give them basic tolerance and respect - I don't verbally attack them or seek ways to hurt them. I would like to just avoid them when possible and go about my business. Some people will never be people that we can actually like.
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