Loving When It May Seem Hard

March 7, 2021

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

~Luke 6:35~

We serve such an amazing God. One who put up with people running wild for thousands of years; disobeying Him, worshipping false gods, sacrificing their own children, not trusting in His ways and attempting to create their own paths in life. Our Father is so patient. There were moments when His anger was aroused and His wrath came down to put an end to the wickedness to start fresh again.

"And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth."

(Genesis 7:10)

"Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens."

(Genesis 19:24)

"because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers." (Jeremiah 44:3)

There comes a time when the Lord can only allow so much before His judgement begins. Who could blame Him? His longsuffering towards us is very incredible. None of us as humans can hold such a patience, we need the Lord to guide us and teach us how to love so much that we are able to remain patient even in times of utter chaos around us. When we spend more time getting to know Jesus personally and understand what He truely did for all of us, we will slowly die to our own flesh and begin to feel the love of God within us enough to love everyone around us.

"I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together."

(II Corinthians 7:3)

Those who may hurt us, we can still love and be patient with. Those who may hate us we can still love them as we understand spiritually what is driving them to feel such a way. The Lord Jesus gave His life for all, including those who were putting Him up on that cross. That kind of love can only come from God Himself, without His guidance we will feel the wickedness of our own human flesh grow within us or perhaps beyond that as we tackle different spirits. "This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

(James 3:15‭-‬17)

The love of God is so pure; when we come to peace with God personally, the peace of God can flow out of our own hearts. We must die to ourselves first, this can certainly be a hard process indeed. I know first hand how hard it is to be pressed and crushed to rid wicked ways within my own body and spirit; however, I also know as well how amazing it feels to have God's peace within me guiding me to be able to love so many others who just need help. Putting ourselves very last and others before us is exactly what we are called to do; "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

As we focus on Jesus on the cross and understand the terrible pain and suffering He endured for us to live in peace, it makes it easier each time to look at others the way He looked at His own enemies; with nothing but love. He knew He was fighting a much bigger battle, not of flesh and blood; "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Jesus says He is kind to the unfaithful and evil. When we go out to serve the Father, we should never expect a reward from anyone. We should never think of ourselves to be praised or thanked by others. We should feel it is an absolute honor to be considered sons and daughters of the Most High. The very fact that He made us, to choose us and to use us so that others may see and feel His love just as we have is all we should truely strive for. " But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

(I Peter 2:9)

The devil wants us to expect a pat on the back, to cause a fuss if we do not become noticed or to be motivated by rewards from this world. The reward is in heaven, I can't say this enough. We are seen, noticed and loved by Jesus Christ; this should be enough motivation to keep us moving, working and blessing those of whom we may not even want to on our own. It is for His glory. For His children. We have no right to feel otherwise. The scriptures have been fulfilled through the shedding of His Blood, the rest is up to us to walk in love of God and be used for His plans until our time to go Home. If Jesus was kind to those who mocked Him, whiped Him, spit on Him and nailed Him up to die; why then should we feel we can act any other way as we claim to follow Him? It will not be easy to follow Him, nobody said it would be. " “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."

(John 15:18)

However, the promises of blessings and reward when we do follow the Lord fully surpasses all we can imagine. Let us not even think about being rewarded, rather about claiming more victory for the kingdom of heaven as we work with Him to overcome evil with good.

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (I John 5:4)

Let us show our love for Jesus and set aside whatever is causing us to feel anything other then God's own love towards humanity.

Prayer:

Precious Adonai, thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you for teaching me that Your love is far greater then I could ever imagine on my own. I pray to focus more on Your Son and how He loved all who hated Him and gave Himself as a servant even as a King. I vow to give my all to You; please guide me Holy Spirit and remove any wicked way in me that is hindering the love of God from filling me. I rebuke any distraction from abiding in You, I pull down any stronghold that is holding me down from fulfilling the will for my purpose of being here. I speak blessings and life over those who dislike me and declare that Your mercies are great. Praises to You Jesus as You shine Your light through me, give me the words to say to those who need my support. I receive this prayer and give honor in Your gracious Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.