Love is a verb…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48)

What does Jesus want when He tells me this? Do I simply greet these enemies with a smile, nothing more? I’ve been “loved” like this by clerks in a store. Love is far more than being nice. As He says, anyone can do that and yet inwardly not care about my well-being at all. That is not love. Jesus describes a different attitude:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38–42)

I read of a soldier whose girl friend wrote asking for her photo returned as she had found someone else. He was hurt and angry so he asked the guys in his barracks for any photos they might have of ex-girl friends. He sent all of them to her with a note that said, “I don’t remember which one is yours, so keep it and return the rest.”

Not funny. No love. Revenge is easy. Just ignore the person, or talk about them behind their back. Get even. Blah, blah blah.

Love is going above and beyond. It is not even doing what I think they might want, but doing what they do want and more. It is giving generously to their needs. Think of God's love. He poured out His life to love me. Saying the words is lovely but dying on a cross for me? That is love.
I might never experience an enemy whose life depends on my sacrifice, but I know that my life is not to be the selfishness of getting even or ignoring those who hurt me or treat me badly. It is being like Jesus even if their rejection continues. 

This is a level of maturity and a test that is most challenging. Feeling appreciated and accepted is a human need. When denied, hopelessness easily moves in as a most unwelcome guest. Turning to love those who are thoughtless toward me is hard enough. As the OT prophet asks: “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5) He implies that if I cannot do this with petty incidents that hurt my feelings, how can I perfectly love those who are far more unkind or who persecute me?

Jesus makes this a standard for all kind of obedience. He says, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:10–11)

Even an exercise program or any kind of study and instruction will begin with the basics. God is like that in training me to be like Jesus. He uses all things toward that end. And I complain? Shame on me.

Oh Lord, the lessons of the past few weeks have left me tired and wanting to run away from life. I see most things that happened as “little” and yet whine? Truly I am ashamed of being so weary when many others are experiencing far worse when it comes to opposition. Grant me forgiveness, cleansing, and greater grace and love toward all. Instead of expecting them to meet my need for acceptance, enable me to meet their need to be loved.

Responding to evil . . .

 

Because I fear steep places without guard rails, this illustration in today’s reading deeply touches me. MacArthur writes: Two men going opposite directions on a narrow mountain trail met each other head-on. With a steep cliff on one side and sheer rock on the other, they were unable to pass. The harder they tried to squeeze past one another, the more frustrated they became. The situation seemed hopeless until one of them, without saying a word, simply laid down on the trail, allowing the other man to walk over him.

That illustrates kindness, normally thought of a “feel good” action. However, in the Bible it is part of what godly love means. It is an attitude that doesn’t mind getting walked on if it benefits someone else. It goes with patience in that patience endures abuses from others, whereas kindness repays them with good deeds.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19–21)

One of my dictionaries says that kindness is “tenderness of spirit” which defines the motivation behind allowing others to walk over me. I’m not insisting on my own way or being selfish but thinking of how I can benefit someone else.

This past week asked for this attitude and I discovered that being kind can be exhausting. Jesus sweat blood. I understand that a tiny bit better than before. Kindness should be easy when it comes to like-minded believers, but even then, my introverted nature finds it requires a conscious choice. It is not natural for me. Thankfully, God is here to help make it happen.

He was kind to provide salvation: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3–7)

He also shows kindness when putting me to work. The same word used in the above verses is also in this passage, translated here as “easy”:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30)

Because of His kindness, and because I’ve experienced it, I should deeply desire to read His Word and grow up — be more like Jesus. This word is translated “good” here, again the same word also translated “kind” in other passages . . .

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

Key to being kind is considering the kindness of the Lord to me. What do my sins deserve but wrath? What does my selfishness tell me about myself? About the kindness of God? No matter what others do or what they are like, Jesus wants me to be to them what He is to me: long suffering and kind.

PRAY: Jesus, it is far easier to be kind to ‘nice’ people, yet if that tires me out, what will being kind to those who are not so nice do to my energy level? I’m realizing again how much I need Your power made perfect in my weakness. I cannot show Your goodness to others without being filled with the Spirit and without being willing to let that action put me on my face — both in humility and in fatigue. I’m relying on You for this great need.

PONDER: Matthew 5:38–48 tells me more about what kindness means. Reread it and think of ways to apply it.