Love Your Enemies
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.34 And if you end to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons ofthe Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
-Luke 6: 27-36 ESV Bible
Two years later, I've allowed their harassment, their alienation, their rumors spread about me, their disrespect, their stealing from me, their outbursts, their malicious intent, their sabotage, their rejection and their hate change me. I've allowed it to alter my faith in God. I've allowed the hurt that they spew to create in me a hate just as strong. Because hurt people hurt people. I've had my own struggles in my personal life, both emotionally and physically these past couple of years and I was not strong enough to withstand the waves of hardships alone. And I did absolutely stand alone as I allowed my faith to wither, meanwhile imploding with the every day hurts from these people which only made me more and more like T H E M.
I would pray, I would go to church but I was every day holding on to a bigger grudge and trudging along with a heavier and heavier heart. And guess what, guys? That's NOT me. That's never been me. I've been living in fear of losing my job, fear of unwarranted rumors ruining my reputation in the eyes of my boss. I've been in defense mode for so long fearing that THEIR actions would affect my life in such a great way that I'd lose my job all together.
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
-Luke 6: 43-45
Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
-Luke 6: 46
Bottom line:
If He isn't Lord of ALL then he isn't Lord AT ALL.
Do yourself the favor
FORGIVE!