LOVE our Enemies?
During the month of February, Monday Meditations is looking at how we, as Corpath members, are called show love to different people and in different ways. Some of the thoughts explored during this series might surprise you.
Over the past few weeks we have learned that LOVE comes from God, and, as a child of God, we are called to love everyone.
This week, we will tackle the command to love our ENEMIES.
The concept of love is an interesting thing. For instance, love is something we can show, give, feel, express, receive, display and share. It’s also limitless. In other words, love never runs out. We have an infinite supply. It’s free to give and yet also extremely valuable.
We have the ability to control who we give it to and also who we receive it from. There are those that are easy to love, such as family, friends, others who are kind to us, and those who are generally “lovely”. Then, there are also those that are not so easy to love. Those who are unkind and have hurt us. Those who show no care or concern for us. Those who are generally “unlovely”. Sometimes, those people may even be considered enemies. We make the decision to withhold giving love to them as a form of punishment and lack of respect or acceptance.
Before we get too far into this, you might be thinking,” I don’t have any enemies.”
Really?
None?
At all?
I find that hard to believe.
According to Dictionary.com, an enemy is “a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.”
Referring to this definition, I want to ask you this question…
Q: Do you have any enemies? If so, who are they, and why are they enemies?
Until doing a bit of study for this topic, I wouldn’t have thought I had any enemies. I cannot think of one person that is willfully and intentionally working for my demise or destruction and is hoping for my failure in life. I’m sure you are thinking the same. However, I want to submit that oftentimes we have “covert enemies”.
These are people that have wronged us in the past and we have made the conscious decision to withhold kindness and sever the relationship with them. Perhaps it was over a harsh business deal. Maybe there were some personal words that wounded or even destroyed the relationship. We may not be thinking of them as “enemies” but we aren’t going out of our way to show love to them either. They may not even know that we have silently placed them in our personal (not public) “bucket of enemies”.
In Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV), Jesus gives us a very clear command in this regard. He says, “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Going deeper into the scriptures, Luke 6:27-36 gives some detailed examples of how to show love to those who are “unlovely”. Take a moment and read Christ’s teachings on the subject.
I have to admit, following Christ can sometimes be very challenging. Some of His commands and expectations seem “super-human” and above my ability. This may be one of them. I do believe that I have the capacity to be collegial and polite to everyone, even my enemies, but to go out of my way to show love? That’s not part of my daily activity list.
As I was preparing to write this article, I challenged myself to identify if I had any enemies. I prayed and asked God to reveal to me those I have placed in my personal “enemy bucket”. When we pray in earnest, God is faithful. Over the course of several days He revealed to me those that I believe have wronged me at some point.
He showed me that my lack of forgiveness has placed people in my “enemy bucket”. I don’t seek to do them harm, but I do withhold showing love to them as a result of previous experiences and hurts.
Q: Are you bold enough to ask that God reveal names of those you have placed in your “enemy bucket”?
If you are inclined to do so, share your thoughts on this topic with your Corpath Forum group members. Be transparent and commit yourself to eliminating your “enemy bucket”
Recalling the list from 1 Corinthians 13, with my enemies I am sometimes guilty of:
• Being impatient and unkind
• I fight for my way over theirs
• I am offended by the way they treated me
• I have maintained a scorecard of how they have wronged me
• I don’t care about seeking relationships with them
Christ calls us to live a holy life. To live with a purpose that shows goodness and LOVE to everyone, even our enemies, as a way of pointing others towards Him.
My Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness and love to me. I thank you for this message today and ask that you show me those whom I could be more loving to. Give me courage to show love as an expression of who You are and not seek anything in return. This week, please provide opportunities to practice love with those who are my enemies. May I be faithful. Amen.
Blessing as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
