“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives His best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.” ~ Matthew 5:43-47, MSG
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” ~ Ephesians 4:31-32, AMP
“There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” ~ Luke 23:32-34, NKJV
“If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” ~ I Corinthians 13:3-7, NLT
Calvary Love Doesn’t Distinguish Between Enemies and Friends
Lord, this world has become so harsh, selfish, and abusive in many ways. I suppose this is what You warned us about when You spoke of the depravity of mankind in the last days. It’s so hard not to get caught up in the vitriol, not to lash back when verbally assaulted by someone with differing opinions.
But You call me to love others, even the unlovable. You call me to love with Calvary love that extends to everyone. Unconditionally.
You have promised Your grace when You ask us to love others with Calvary love in the face of hostility. Lord, when I was lost and separated from You — when I was an enemy to You — You died for me. You gave Your life, not only for Your friends, but also for Your enemies. Please teach me to love likewise.
Your love is patient and kind. It is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Your love does not demand its own way. It cares for others more than itself, and it doesn’t hold grudges. Your love will hardly notice when others do it wrong.
One day, all of Your gifts will come to an end, but love goes on forever.
I want to walk in that love consistently, Lord. I want to exemplify Calvary love to all those I encounter. No filters. No conditions. Just love … pure love like You have shown me. In my weakness, You are strong, Your grace is sufficient. But it’s up to me to choose kindness.
Kindness, I choose.
I Want Others to See Jesus in Me
I want to glorify Your Name in all things. Maybe through kindness, the offenders will see Jesus. This is my heart’s desire. I pray my life will bring honor to You, Lord.
In Jesus’s Name I pray,
Amen~ let it be so
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Please don’t carry your burdens alone. I would be honored to pray for you. You may contact me directly at nan@nanjones.com
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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down, and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.
Sweet blessings to you,
