Sunday, January 31, 2010

Love Your Enemies

32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!34 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. Luke 6:32-34
I heard a preacher once say that you can measure the way you love by looking at how you treat the person you love the least.
It's an interesting thought. Often when we think about out ability to love, we measure ourselves by the way we treat the people we love the most (our kids, our spouse, our friends).
But Jesus said even the sinners love those who love them.
The real test is how you treat the people you don't like. The person that sits next to you in class that no one likes. The coworker that gets on your last nerve. Your ex-husband or ex-wife (ouch!). Someone who really hurt you.
Jesus went on to say...
35 "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.36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:35-36

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