Love Beyond the Candy Aisle

Well, it’s the month of love, I’m told (at least the candy aisle at Walmart seems to be screaming that to any passerby)—a month of greeting cards, and heart-shaped candy boxes. Now, I’ll admit—I like chocolate (more than I ought to). So, when Sheila brings home a box of truffles or Reese’s hearts, I’m not disappointed. However, I know that stuff is only a little glimpse of what she feels for me. Her love and commitment aren’t about giving me gifts, but they’re about pursuing my good as I lovingly pursue hers. That is often welcomed, but not always. Sometimes I don’t want what’s good; sometimes I want what’s selfish. And sometimes that can lead to tension. But since Sheila’s my wife, we work to see through my selfishness, until I might repent and love her and our God well again. That’s great when it comes to our spouse, but what of loving our enemies?

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” There was this idea in Hebrew thought that loving a neighbor was so challenging that to do it was a great honor. Because that was so difficult, it was pushing the limits of human love. So, loving your enemy would be impossible, and therefore, it was okay to not want them to exist at all. That’s essentially what it means to hate (something everyone has felt at one time or another). However, Jesus says to love not only your family, those you choose to be close with, and your neighbors, but ALSO your enemies. Those who’ve harmed you or overlooked you, work for their good as well… Astonishing! Jesus knew this, but He also knew it was possible.

This is possible because He is the one who enables it. For those who have harmed us or who we would rather be gone, He can help us see them as He sees them. How is that?—as creations of God who bear His image (or who look like his character). Because He says they are these things, they have inherent value equal to the one you love the most. Therefore, their worth isn’t determined by the harm they did to you. Their existence isn’t the memory you have of the pain they caused.  In order to see them this way, it will require you and I to expose our hatred against them to our Father. As we pray for help, He will change our hearts. In time, we will not see them as those things, but as a creation our Father loves. That may result in a new relationship, or it may result in just kindness when we see them. Either way, it will result in understanding them as our Father meant for us to.

In this season of love, yes, love your family well. Buy the chocolates and get the balloons. Kiss your spouse and hug your momma, but as you think on these things, consider your enemy: the old boss you have resentment toward, the once-close friend who dodges you. Begin to ask God to help you see them not for what they did, but who He says they are.

I’m looking forward to seeing you here this season, too, as we worship and love our Father together. So join us this cold month as he warms our hearts with love for Him.

In Love, 

William