I certainly do not make light of love. Love is of utmost importance. The Bible is a book of love, outlining God’s love for us and telling us how we are to love others.
It is easy to love those that love us, but we are also to love those who don’t love us and that can be extremely difficult. How can we possibly love those who not only don’t love us, but are actually against us; our enemies? My own approach is remembering God’s love for me (I know without a doubt God loves ME—I am special to God); through faith in Christ and through the Holy Spirit in prayer.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44b, (NIV), "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". Proverbs 10:12 tells us, "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs". Furthermore, Proverbs 25:21-23 tells us, "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you".
I am ashamed to admit to you, my spiritual maturity has only recently reached the level of praying sincerely for those who have persecuted me. I must tell you, however, very unashamedly; praying for those who have hurt you will fill your heart with joy. Not only do I look at these few people in a different light, they seem to look at me differently also. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can this be accomplished.
Begin today to pray for those who have hurt you. If you have difficulty finding the words, the Holy Spirit will guide you and even intercede on your behalf. It will make a difference in your life.
Remember, God our Father is the Creator of love. It was He who enabled the apostle Paul to write what is referred to as, “The Love Chapter”, in 1 Corinthians 13. It is a beautiful passage which eloquently describes love for us:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.My prayer for you is that you have true love; everlasting love; divine love through Jesus Christ.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
God bless you!
