“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”
― G.K. Chesterton
EZEKIEL 38-39
25“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacobd and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. 26They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. 27When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. 28Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(39:25-29)
1 PETER 3
8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”a
JOURNAL
Reading these verses in Peter...the one that truly pulls the rug out from under me is to "repay evil with blessing". Really? To bless those who do evil? Really? The more I think on this the more troubling it is. It seems completely impractical and illogical. How is that going to do any good for anyone. It seems weak and doesn't hold the one committing evil accountable for their actions. It even seems to give permission to continue the evil.
This is hard because when I am honest with myself...I don't wish for blessing on those who have harmed me or "wronged" me. I wish for blessings for me and those I love and I wish harm on those that are a threat or those I deem to be evil or wrong. I think this is normal and this is how most people operate. .
But then I look to the New Testament all that changes...Jesus' sermon on the mount gives a completely different take on how we are to behave and how we are to love. It turns my natural desires and conventional wisdom on its head. It demands that we "love our enemies". Oh how far away from this is my heart...yet I know that although God forgives my sin and anger and secret thoughts...he demands that I turn from them and follow him down a different path.
Turning from this way of thinking requires not only forgiveness of my enemies but also forgiveness of myself. In many ways that is tougher than forgiving my enemies. For some reason even though I know God has forgiven me, it feels almost wrong to let myself off the hook for my sins. The reality is though that until I can do this I can't really forgive others.
Today is another day to rejoice in all that God has given. Most importantly it is to rejoice in his forgiveness and love. For no matter the physical blessings or lack of them, his love and forgiveness can never be taken away...and therefore are meant to be shared and given to a world desperate for them.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
No comments:
Post a Comment