The Light Continues to Shine

Matthew 5

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons 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.


Lord Jesus—It is love toward people who should not be on the list that defines Your call on my life. You call me to love the people it is not easy to love or have any affection for at all. In fact that kind of love that you are talking about really is almost beyond feeling…it is showing the love of God demonstrated at the cross. It is a love that is sacrificial; servant-hood encrusted, and grace defined love.


This is the place where love really is not emotion at all but more a commitment that refuses to let go.  Not love that is without boundaries but love that does not stop.  You call me to love that is like the sun shining on down on all without qualitative distinction of who is the object.  How many enemies are on my pray list?


46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


So if I am going to go beyond the level that I see around me in my general culture, it calls for something beyond giving to get. You do not call me to reciprocal relationships but in asymmetrical relationships. 


You call me to guerrilla warfare when it comes to love lived out in real life…Love demonstrated beyond and behind enemy lines, even playing games with the whole idea of what the word enemy means. Love shown without distinction just like sun and the rain.  That is the growing edge for me, isn't it?  


Your love is a superhighway and so often I think of it somehow restricted or only aimed at me and mine. Your love is indiscriminate you love thief, rascal and saint the same.  I want to walk in the light of your life...don't let me get in the way of your love shining down on those that surround me.


Lord Jesus--In this day that will start very soon help me to live out your love with creativity and hope without distinction to the response that I get.