This scripture has been on my mind all day.
I like the way The Message Version puts it.
I have been thinking about the implications of living like Jesus instructs us to in this scripture and I can see that I have a looooooong way to go. Can I really live like this? Steady loving people who hurt me? I wish I could confidently say yes, but...
What Jesus is asking of us goes against our human nature. It's a tall order. Thankfully, He has promised to help us as we walk with Him. I'm taking this challenge and asking for His help. Wanna come along?
This is soooo hard but His Grace is sufficient!
ReplyDeleteVery hard. I can't even pretend...
DeleteThis is so true and so hard to do. But well with God all things are possible.
ReplyDeletewww.secretlilies.blogspot.com
With God... That right there is what makes all the difference, my dear.
DeleteBless your heart Gbemi... its difficult but you can, HE who commands it will give you grace
ReplyDeleteGrace... Thankfully, it's sufficient :o)
DeleteBeen a long minute. Hoe have you been?
interesting post Gbemi, God dealt with me on this for a whole year some time back and boy did He bring some unlovable people my way, what I learnt is that it is to build our own character and the reward at the end is invaluable.
ReplyDeletewww.bukkyapampa.com
Like, The unloveable people are the test of how much we've really learnt or changed... God and His sense of humor :o)
DeleteMs Gbemi!!!!! .... I definitely NEED to come along. Its been forever, I hope my munchkins are doing well.
ReplyDeleteForever and a day, my dear.
DeleteI'm off to yours, time to stop being a stranger :o)
There is someone. I don't know if it's right to say she's unlovable but right now she makes it really difficult for us to talk to her. She talks and stop talking to people around her at will. I'm really tired so I hope it's okay if I just keep praying for but keep her at arm's lenght:(
ReplyDeleteBelieve me when I say I feel you.
DeleteI think that passage of scripture refers to people like the person you have just described. It is supposed to be hard. Like Bukky's comment above, I think looking forward to the reward has to be one of the best ways to keep going.
It helps to remember that our reward comes from God and not them, if we are going to keep from getting frustrated. His grace is sufficient for us :o)
The question I have though, is where do we draw the line between loving unconditionally and protecting ourselves from people who hurt us?
I should do a post about this...