 Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. I have seen a lot posted on social media where people are taking a stand. Drawing a line in the sand so to speak and choosing which side they are going to be counted with. I think that’s fine. I have no problem with line drawing - no problem with choosing a side. I think that’s a good thing, a healthy thing even. What I don’t think is healthy is how we villainize everyone who doesn’t stand on our side. If, I’m being completely honest, I find myself doing it. If I see a post on social media that doesn’t align with my own personal, political or social beliefs, I belittle that person in my mind without even meaning to. It wasn’t until a friend of mine posted the above verse on his feed that I began to think about what the true problem in America is right now. It’s not the left, and it’s not the right. It’s the citizens who refuse to believe that people from the other side are, in the end, just people too - people with their own thoughts and experiences who for whatever reason are standing on a different side of the issue than you are. Are they your enemy? Fine. But you know what God says about that. Love them. More than that, love them in a 1 Corinthians 13 way. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. Love the way God loves you. He is patient with you. He is kind towards you. He keeps no record of your wrongs. Can you say the same about yourself? Are you patient with others. Kind towards them? Keeping no record of their wrongs? If you truly can’t say this about your worst enemy, maybe you need to stop posting on social media and start finding a way to bridge the gap, to conquer the divide, to love the way you are loved by God. In that truth press on, my friends. Until next time. Comments are closed.
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