I was born in Canada, grew up on the Amazon in Peru,went to high school in Iowa, College in Pennsylvania, served as a pastor in central Ontario, and in Indiana. Now I am a medical interpreter at the St. Vincent Pimary Care Clinic in Indianapolis, and the pastor of a Spanish Church at First Baptist Church in Carmel, Indiana. One of the hobbies I enjoy is writing, and knowing that people are reading what I have written online. It is my hope that my articles will be of a help to you, and especially that they will introduce you to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The day before Good Friday is called "Maundy Thursday." It is the day of Christ's great mandate. That day, after He had washed His disciples' feet, He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (Jn. 13:34)
If I were to ask you who you loved, I am sure you would answer with not just one, but several someones. I wonder, would any of those names be the name of an enemy?
It is easy to love those who love you and are nice to you, but what about those who aren't nice?
In the days of the American Revolutionary War there lived at Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a Baptist pastor by the name of Peter Miller who enjoyed the friendship of General Washington. There also lived in that town a man named Michael Wittman, an evil-minded man who did all in his power to abuse and oppose this pastor. One day Michael Wittman was involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced to death. The old preacher started out on foot and walked the whole seventy miles to Philadelphia. He was admitted into Washington's presence and begged for the life of the traitor. Washington said, "No, Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your friend." The preacher exclaimed, "My friend! No! He is the bitterest enemy I have!" Washington exclaimed, "What? You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light! I will grant the pardon." Peter Miller took Michael Wittman from the very shadow of death back to his own home in Ephrata, no longer as an enemy, but as a friend.
One of the prominent characters in the Old Testament is a model of God doing this. "As it is written, Jacob have I loved..." (Romans 9:13)
I'll let you in on a secret. I don't like Jacob; I don't think I really ever have. "But how can you not like one of the Bible's heroes!? Isn't that like not liking Jesus?" No it is not. Jacob was a Hebrew patriarch, a man, not God. There is a lot not to like about him. Think about it - Even at birth he was grasping; that is why he was named Jacob ("He who grasps"). From then on he seemed to always be scheming, grasping.
It Bothered Esau. "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" (Genesis 27:36) Jacob grasped at the birthright, the blessing, Laban's cattle....
What about his beloved Rachael? Was he nice to her? What about her sister Leah, Jacob's first wife? God gave Leah a child because He saw that she was hated! Rachel was treated fine, but Jacob was not even satisfied with her and Leah. He took on concubines. His family life strikes a sour note. Things weren't good. He quite obviously played favorites; so much so that Joseph's brothers hated Joseph enough to think of killing him and then sold him into slavery in Egypt.
Here is what strikes me when God brings "Jacob have I loved" to mind. I don't like Jacob, but God loves him. Even with all the sour, God loves Him. God loves the people I don't like. This is where the rubber meets the road. We all have people we don't like. God loves them and tells us to love them in response to Jesus' love for us.
Do you have anybody you don't like (Maybe not hate - just don't like)? They are loud, smell bad, are foolish, hurtful, critical, nasty, and foul, someone who has hurt you, someone who doesn't like you. You say, "They don't like me and I don't like them!"
God loves them. God wants to help you to love them like He does.
Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the (sinners) doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." God loves them - God wants me to love them just like He does.
How does He love them? A counselee told me about the lousy family she grew up in - how badly she was still being treated. She said, "I have forgiven them, but I don't owe them anything! They never built a relationship with me. If they are sick or hurt, it is no different than if it were a stranger. I stay away from them!" Aren't you glad God didn't forgive you that way?
His love is very practical. "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:20). "There is no love which does not become help." (Paul Tillich).
"But they don't deserve it!" That is the point of love. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). "Most men need more love than they deserve." (Marie Von Ebner - Eschenbach). That is me, you, the people you like, the people you don't like. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)
This principle not just about outsiders. This principle hits us right where we live. It probably has to be used more in your home than out of your home. "Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots." (From the Hoosier Farmer)
Chew on this for a little while. God loves the people you don't like. Do you? He is ready to give you the power to love them too.
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