Nougat 21

Hey- how’s your love quotient going? Before you answer, consider today’s Holy Nougat

““But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Love your enemies – Ay, that’s a tough one. We scarcely want to admit that we have enemies, and when we do, we are not usually inclined to admit culpability on our side. It’s usually the ‘other’s’ fault and not ours. Thus Jesus’ command poses a real challenge for all of us.

In choosing to love our enemy, it is not that we ignore the reality of what went down. No, it is a decision, a choice to move beyond the pain of rejection, loss, betrayal, and anger (directed at God, ourselves and/or the ‘enemy’) and allow ourselves to live by God’s Spirit. For it is a task that is best done with God’s help – it goes against our natural instincts.

Probably we may, by God’s grace, choose to see the God effect at work in the person. This doesn’t preclude the wrong, rather it includes the right done by our enemy. In the course of focusing on the good they do, maybe the enemy will seem like less of an ogre. We might then accept them as God’s precious ones, warts and all.

Of course, loving Christ’s way also implies a willingness to die on behalf of the enemy. Hmmn – I don’t know that that’s even easy for our family or friends. For whether it’s literal or not, most of us don’t take death lightly; nor are we actively seeking to die. Might this require some prayers on our part?

Finally, I often used to think of the enemy without. But what of the enemy within? Is it possible that we are our own worst enemy? And when that is the case, it is critical that acknowledge our actions, repent of our own treachery, forgive ourselves, and learn to trust and love ourselves once again. Of course I have presumed that we seek God’s forgiveness first and where necessary, we apologize to those whom we have hurt. Not easy, but absolutely healing and freeing.

Lord

Grant us grace to love the enemy within and without. In Jesus name amen

—

May all we seek be found in Christ