Love is Not for Sissies

SCRIPTURE: But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45 NIV

THOUGHT: We may think the elementary lessons of faith are learning to love, but at age 60, I’m fairly convinced that learning to love like God is still as far in the distance as it was when I was 20 and had no enemies that I could discern, and no one persecuting me either. Love got harder and more expensive as the years passed and troubles came. Maybe all that happens over time is we see more clearly how cheap our love can be compared to God’s. Rather than getting a whole lot better at loving others (especially those who don’t love us), we just fall more readily on our knees, confess our need for help to love, and choke out prayers for those who’ve hurt us? Maybe that’s the best place to be, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t long for more. Corrie Ten Boom’s face is always before me!

PRAYER: Oh God, I struggle to love my enemies and pray for those who’ve wounded me, but when I think of how long-suffering you have been throughout history, I am certain I can do better with your example and help. Teach me what it means to “send rain on the righteous and unrighteous” in my life – to bless and not curse.

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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.

Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.

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