“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Jesus calls us to radical love in Luke 6:32–36. These verses were spoken regarding enemies. But knowing that all of the law is summed up in the commandment to love one another and that love is the greatest commandment, we can safely assume that these verses apply not only to our enemies but also to anyone we need to love. Maybe the coworkers who insist on chatting right outside your office cubicle, the teenager who resents your attempts at guidance, the church member who always has a complaint. Reflect on times of conflict you’ve had. Could it be you have a skewed view of the person you are struggling with? It can be hard to love someone you view as an enemy or as selfish or as a brat. Your desire and mine should be to love God first and love our neighbors as ourselves. If we can view difficult people as those we are called to love, perhaps it will soften our hearts toward them. This love isn’t always reciprocated and isn’t always easy. It’s tough to love when you don’t receive, and yet we must if we are to truly love at all.
Reflect:
Read Luke 6:27–36. Who comes to mind, instinctively, when you read these words from Jesus? Why may God be bringing that relationship to your attention?
Pray:
Read the passage aloud as a form of contemplation and prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to convict you and guide your thoughts about relationships you may need to work on.
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
As my doubts about his teachings grew, so did a secret fascination with Jesus.
Beyoncé’s right. Whether listening to Cowboy Carter or reading theology, diversity is a good thing.
