you know what jesus said right? "love your neighbor" then "love
your enemy" and of course the most important "love your God"... i think
i'm beginning to understand this teaching a little better.
you
know when we were all just a little younger, most of us had a crush.
for some reason or another, we were drawn to a particular person.
perhaps they were cute or pretty or beautiful even. maybe they were
exceptionally talented in the arts, visual or musical. still perhaps
they were kind hearted or patient or considerate.
whatever the
reason, however. we have to realize that we can only appreciate those
good things in our crush when they are brought out. how are they
brought out? through the comparison of their actions and their
interaction with others. our crush's art is beautiful even as it's
being painted (which might contrast with that other person's art which
is gross looking...see, interaction and comparison!). our crush's face
is more beautiful than that other person's (this is more of a
comparison is suppose). then again, our crush is so kind to that other
person...much kinder than someone else i know... (both are necessary
for appreciating such a person)
here's my point. we admire kind/considerate/patient/temperate/selfless/loving
people because of their interaction with others. because of their
interaction with others (and how our minds naturally compare the
quality of their expression as different/better than that of others),
we can appreciate the goodness that comes out of them.
that's
why we sometimes love the girl who's experienced unrequited love-
because we see her expression of love as the best that she can offer.
The best of herself, the best of her love, the best of her life. here's
the kicker though- even though we can admire or love her, we can only
do it from afar. why? because her heart is soul'd out to that man who
doesn't return her feelings.
soul. sold. out.
i think
jesus (and God for that matter) knew all about human nature when he
said "love God, neighbor, and even enemy". when we do those things, our
lives are also soul'd out. but we're soul'd out to jesus alone, one who
does return our feelings and more.
jesus is giving us an
opportunity to show our love-true genuine love- in a way that is
similar to the love-lorn girl or the other examples. when we love an
enemy, maybe they'll change their ways and love us back... but perhaps
we try to love our enemy but they reject us. what then? we have just
taken on a love-lorn character in the eyes an onlooker. a third party.
bingo. sympathy fills their heart wonder why we love such enemies who
don't return our sentiments. they wonder, they ask, "why are you so
insistent on loving those who don't love you back?". and it's beautiful
because from there we reply, "because i'm soul'd out to jesus and he
really really loves me even when everyone else rejects me“. instantly,
a longing comes upon our onlooker and opportunity is born.
"wow,
you are so different" they think to themselves. they will naturally
make a comparison with the other people they know who would be so
bitter after being rejected. both our action (of kindness) and our
reaction (to rejection) will bring out a natural admiration and longing
for us and our cause (which is God). who knows, maybe even an "i wonder
if i could ever be like that" might come out.
that is our multi-sided benefit from a simple teaching of jesus.
amen? amen.
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