December 5, 2011 

Today’s Meditation Verse:

 

Luke 6:27-28

27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

 

The past month has had some challenges for me and they all involved people.  In two instances someone I loved was being horribly mistreated and it infuriated me.  In two other instances I was done horribly wrong.

 

In all cases I would find myself thinking about whatever situation was primary at the time and feel my anger start to rise. I knew if I didn’t stop it I would get pretty riled up!  But most times I would make a point of stopping myself and purposely making a mental shift.

 

I know that anger in and of itself is not a sin.  But entertaining anger for an extended period of time only makes the angry person miserable and can lead to a sinful act.  I didn’t want to be miserable, but more than that I know what my Father God expected of me and has given me the tools to be.  And that is what I truly want, to please Him in all that I do.

 

So, what I would do is stop myself and pray and in that prayer I would submit myself to the Holy Spirit to help me not only forgive and forget, but to also love them.  I always pray in those circumstances for God to help me see them through His eyes.  Always it is at that point I would feel the anger drain out of me and I would begin to see them differently.

 

I am not going to say that I instantly felt love towards them, but forgiveness is the first step.  It is an exercise of forgiveness and as I see them more and more through God’s eyes, the compassion and love will come.  I know that I cannot do this on my own.  My only hope is by receiving God’s love and then giving that love out to them.

 

There are some people, I have come to realize, who are placed in our lives for us to love – on purpose.  Knowing this has made dealing with one of these instances somewhat easier.  I make it a point to pray for them even when I don’t feel like it.

 

So when I read the scripture above, I am meditating on it myself to remember that I too must submit myself to the Holy Spirit when I am mistreated and done wrong.   It is a reminder to pray for them and love them instead of returning to them mistreatment and anger. 

 

It is not about fairness.  It is not about justice.  It is not about an eye for an eye or any of that.  It is about grace.  I want grace multiplied in my life and so I intend to sow seeds of grace wherever I go, even when it hurts!

 

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