Recently, I found myself in a BIG stew over a person who had really hurt someone I love. As I felt bitterness and unforgiveness building a cache in my mind and taking me into a downward spiral away from a strong sense of God’s presence, He planted this gentle reminder in my mind: “I love that person—just like I love you.”
This hit me like a ton of bricks!
I was NOT feeling loving thoughts towards this person! In fact, I really wanted them to feel pain! But God has a way of using the TRUTH about HIS LOVE for ME to keep me from falling into the pit of bitter unforgiveness.
God taught me a valuable lesson:
When I view my offenders the same way God views me—I value THEM more than I value my FEELINGS about them and—I experience His supernatural love instead of my own destructive bitterness.
His love is manifested DAILY to billions of people who refuse to reciprocate His love—in fact—humanity TRAMPLES on His love!
And yet, God loves!
God’s love is the most powerful force on earth because it supernaturally draws humanity into an eternal relationship with Him—one that cannot be severed by time, death or circumstances. The book of Jeremiah says:
“The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”
Jeremiah 31:3
The lovingkindness of God does not force or compel us; it draws us—by love and compassion.
If you’re experiencing indifference, disrespect, rudeness, rejection, or unkindness, and it’s driving you to retaliate, ask yourself “why?” What is your motivation for retaliation? Do you think retaliation will give you the civility, respect, acceptance, kindness, or a semblance of the deep care you desire? My friend, only God can fill our gaping need for acceptance and wholeness.
Ah, this is the CRITICAL reason we must make Jesus the GREATEST TREASURE of our heart!
Jesus is the only source of everything we need and who will never fail! Furthermore, when His presence is our greatest expectation, we don’t crush others with our expectations. Examine WHAT or WHOM you have made the greatest treasure of your heart. Is it a child? Is it a parent? Is it a spouse? Is the crushing lack of affirmation or fellowship breaking your heart? This is a great time to remember what Jesus said:
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
This “treasure” isn’t just money and stuff—it’s also relationships. We must NEVER make ANY relationship more important than our relationship with God. God will never disappoint us! When God is the treasure of our heart, our greatest anticipation is to receive everything we need from Him. It frees us to love others—even our enemies.
A life characterized by love for our enemies is a demonstration of the remarkable empowerment of Christ!!!
Jesus commanded us to LOVE our enemies AND—He wouldn’t have told us to do this if He didn’t give us the strength to DO it! He said:
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Luke 6:27-28
God’s presence fills us with the treasure of His joy and no one—not even those who hate us, curse us, or spitefully use us—can take this away. When God’s presence becomes our greatest expectation, we don’t expect to receive any greater joy from another person. We already know there is no greater joy than Him.
God’s presence changes us and purifies our motives. When we learn to give like He does, we give the love we’ve been given. It gives us great joy to give without expectation. We don’t need approval, respect, thanks, appreciation, or reciprocation from others because we already have all we need in Jesus. His goodness is our deep well.
When we make God our greatest treasure—He gives us the power to love—even our enemies.
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God is to be the lover of our soul. Because he first loved us .