I’ve heard lots of talk lately encouraging us as Jesus-followers to see ourselves as God sees us. I’ve even personally written about it. To preach truths to ourselves, like “I’m fearfully and wonderfully made,” “You know me perfectly and created me with purpose,” “You have tasks set aside for me to do.” And those are all true things. And preaching them to ourselves is good and right.
But what if we started preaching those things to ourselves about others, specifically about those who can…make us crazy. Imagine if we actually did what Jesus 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)
He says to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So, it seems that would mean to love them in our inward being. To love them by thinking good and true things about them, just as we strive to think about ourselves.
It isn’t be easy. In fact, it’s impossible if we haven’t crucified the self-life again today. Again this hour. But true Jesus-love does good to others, even in our heart’s meditations.
I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. That’s true. But so is she. And so is he.
Fill me, Lord…
How does this thought challenge you?
Book Club
For those joining us in the book club featuring To Walk or Stay, it’s time to start reading chapter 1. (Yay!) Come back here on Thursday to discuss the questions at the end of chapter 1.
WOW! It challenges me in my current struggle with my spouse. I see him as the enemy. I know he is not but it really seems as though he works against me and so that is hard. It is tough to profess those things about him on a daily basis because I feel like I am constantly under attack. Not physically but spiritually. I am going to work on this though. I somehow feel this may be the key to unlocking spiritual progress within my marriage….thanks Lara…And yes Im excited about the Book Club…I am ready and waiting!
I’m looking forward to the book club too. And it is so easy to look at people as the enemy. When you are right… they aren’t the ultimate enemy. Praying for the grace to bless others with how we think about them today.
So true, Lara. It is so important to love those that hurt us, to love our enemies. I would want to add here, though, if their crazy-making gets to the point of oppression or control, it’s equally important to set up boundaries to protect ourselves from these people. Some people can hurt us so deeply that we need time and space away from them so we can heal, and as our hearts heal God gives us a soft heart to continue to pray for them.
Thank you for making that point, Sydney. It’s such a delicate line to figure out how love actually looks in certain circumstances. Sometimes love does say, “no.” My biggest prayer is that we would be slow yet wise in boundary decisions — seeking God, as He alone sees the beginning from the end. Thanks again, Sydney.