What Are You Doing More Than Others?

You know those couples that are truly inspiring? They seem to be kind, gentle and poised all the time. You can't help but want to be around them. They treat each other with great respect as well as everyone they come in contact with. Well, we live next to a couple. They moved in around 5 years ago...And they aren't like that at all. I can honestly say that I have despised these people. We've had several interactions with them and none of them have been what I would call pleasant. All memorable...but not pleasant. Well, during some quiet time in the last week while I was reading I found a verse in the Bible that I have read many times before but it stuck out to me more this time than others.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?..." Matthew 7:43-44, 46-47a

And then my head was filled with the following thoughts, "But I don't want to pray for these people. They're terrible and foul and rude and arrogant..." That was not the end of my list. "And they certainly don't deserve my love. And how on earth am I supposed to love someone that I feel very strong emotions for that are in fact quite the opposite of love??"

And then today I read this:

"To truly love someone takes great effort. We must know and receive God’s love for us first before we can love others. Love is not something we are born with but something we learn through our rebirth and connection with God. In fact we must be born of God to “love” others in the proper ways."

And I also read this:

"Love is a gift from God because only something as precious and wonderful as God’s love can help us to love someone who has wronged us." (Matthew 5:38-42)

And what I really heard the loudest when I read that was, "God's love can help us..." It is absolutely impossible to love my neighbors by myself. I can't do it. 

A few years ago I was in a bible study and we did a little exercise that I'd like to share with you now. 

1) Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-8a (You know...Love is patient, Love is kind...)

2) Insert your name wherever you would normally read "Love" (Are you cringing as much as I did?)

3) Now replace "Love" with "Jesus". (Sounds a lot better, huh?)

4) And finally replace "Love" with "Jesus in me". 

You see apart from Jesus we are dark and dirty and not even capable of love. Jesus died on the cross not only to save me, but he also died on the cross to save my neighbors. If you've accepted Jesus' gift of salvation God now sees you through the lens of Jesus. And He wants me to shine his light so that more may know and experience His love. I can't do that if I'm holding onto hatred and bitterness. It's not easy, but we don't have to do it alone. Ask for His strength and embrace it. 

I love you all millions more than I'm capable of on my own,

xoxo Heather

photo courtesy of luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net