Christian: Do You Respond in Love?

Love is often not the first responce to an offense. As a matter of fact, love is often the last response when we feel hurt or attacked. But this is not the way we are to act, and you will soon see that acting in love may be the best choice for if no others and yourself.

Romans 12:17-21 (NIV) "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Having someone offend you doesn't not give you the rightful ability to offend them back. The saying "two wrongs don't make a right" is a very true popular saying. If someone is speaking badly about you to someone, and you turn around and do the same exact thing, than you have no right what so ever to be offended, even if they did it first.

Doesn't that sound like what we try to teach our own children? "It doesn't matter who did it first, you still know better!" So why is it so easy to point a finger at our children, but we ourselves turn around and do the same thing and offer up the same excuses? Well, we are children- God's children, and His answer will be much like our own to our children. It does not mater the offense we receive, we know better and our reactions will be held acountable to God. We will need to answer to Him.

There are many clear verses in the Bible the illustrate the instruction of loving our enemies, returning good for evil, turning the other cheek. As a matter of fact, it is Jesus Himself who laid down a perfect walking example of that mind set. Yet we all know the W.W.J.D (What would Jesus Do?) logo and still try to rationalize our immature, child like attitudes that proceed to defend getting back at someone.

Perhaps the most beautiful love is that that we can show when it is undeserving and unconditional. We are all told that the love we have with our children is a bond that can not be broken, but even in our own marriages - unconditional love cease to exist. It all becomes about our rights and our pride. If we think that because we don't relate to offensives and hurts with the same sinful backlash than we are being walked all over much like a doormat, than should we say Jesus was a door mat? Certainly NOT! But the point is made clear in that illustration.

The tit-for-tat games that we play at the office, with our friend and family and even under our own roof are at best signs that we need to get back to walking the walk that we talk about on Sundays. Many unbelievers will critise Christians by calling them "hypocrites" or "Sunday Saints" meaning one day a week we are holy than thou and the other six days we are not any different from the world. Is that the example and message we ought to be sending out to the world about God's people? Is loving our enemies and responding with good for evil just out of arms reach? Perhaps at times, since no man is perfect, but we all can make the clear choice to do our best to shine brightly for the kingdom of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me become more like you everyday. Teach me your ways and mold me into the man/woman you created me to be. Show me how to love my enemies and respond with love for offenses made towards me. I really have been struggling with____(a particular situations whether at work, at home or with a friend) and I need your help to do it your way and not mine. I want to be the salt of the world and I want you to shine through me onto others. Forgive me dear Lord for taking matters intro my own hands, forgive me for my pride and for____ (anything else you need to ask for forgiveness) Thank you Lord, in Jesus name I prayer, Amen!

2 Timothy 2:23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.