February 18, 2007

Sometimes its tough to love the people you already love but Jesus calls us to do more even than this. He says, (are you setting down?) "Love your enemies" (Luke 6:27). That just complicates everything, doesn't it! I mean, good grief, how much can He expect from us? We're only human.

Nobody said being a Christian was easy. It isn't; at least if you take Jesus seriously, it isn't easy. It will cost you everything. It will affect your finances, your possessions, your values, your decision-making, your relationships, and even your time management. It will even affect how you relate to people who believe differently than you, who think differently than you, and who embrace values and morals you would never embrace.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die."[1] That about says it all. The old timers use to call it dying out to God, and putting everything on the altar, and consecrating all to God. Pick a phrase. They all work. What they all means is that people who take Jesus seriously and live as Christ-like followers, have let go their natural way of doing things and have come to embrace the ways and means of God. The apostle Paul said it this way, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

We will probably never love our enemies in our own strength but that's okay. We're not living for ourselves but for the Jesus who "emptied Himself of all but love and bled for Adams helpless race."[2] In Him all things become new, and "by His scourging we are healed" to live redeemed lives (see 2 Cor. 5:17 and Is. 53:5).
May God help us to be a place and a people of love in a world where everybody needs a place and a people of love.

[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
[2] Charles Wesley, "And Can It Be?"