Love those who hurt you

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbors hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:43

Jesus words are inspirational but super hard to apply, don’t you think? In Matthew, he encourages us to do the most difficult thing, to love in action those who have hurt, shamed, and even persecute us.

Sometimes those who have hurt us the most are those from whom we expected to love and protect us: family, friends or a significant other; Which makes it even harder because they let us down.

But we live in a fallen world, and God has graced us with freedom of choice. And though that doesn’t justify their actions, the reality is that many times we will be hurt, shamed and persecuted and we might do the same to them.

Jesus provides the solution to LOVE in spite of the feelings, the pain, and the wounds. He never said it was going to be easy or that we would like it. But in this way, we honor our Father in Heaven and distinguish ourselves as followers of Christ.

I am loving my biological mother this week in spite of my feelings and the pain of my past, who will you love in action this week?