Gifts For my Enemies

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:35-36

My child,

Empowered by my Spirit, you can offer your enemies the gifts of generosity, kindness, forgiveness, and mercy. I can show you how to love your enemies well and do good in their lives. This does not mean always giving everyone everything they want. It is important for you to follow my lead. I am the only one who completely understands what is good. Sometimes you will never have contact with an enemy, but you can fervently intercede for that person to come into an ever deepening, life-giving relationship with me. That is the greatest gift you can give them.

Be sure you are not looking for something in return. That is never my motive when I do good in your life. Your reward will be great when you show love to your enemies, but I don’t want that to be what drives your behavior. You are my child. I want you to act like me. Remember, every kindness I extend is toward someone who doesn’t deserve it. I love those who are ungrateful and wicked, just like you are at times.  I want you to be merciful, just as I am merciful.

I want you to give without fear of lack. My gifts are boundless. Don’t worry. You can never out give me. My warehouse is never empty. I don’t struggle with a scarcity of resources. My supplies are endless. I want to lavish them on you and delight in you as you lavish them on others.

I love you,

Abba

My Abba,

I love the quote I found this morning from Dave Willis as I was pondering this topic. “Don’t treat people the way they treat you; treat them the way God treats you.” Show me more about how to treat people who don’t treat me well. I want to make that decision in light of my dependence on your infinite resources. I cannot even pretend to do this in my own strength.

I don’t want to give to others to feed some nagging need in my soul. Serving others out of my woundedness is like trying to offer refreshment from a scorched gully. I want to make a divine sacrifice empowered by your Spirit. Sometimes, though, I think what looks like a good or kind act is not the loving thing for me to do. Please teach me more about sanctified sacrifice. Show me what is truly in someone’s best interest.

If you are kind to those who are ungrateful and wicked, then I know I should be too. I just need to know when a course of action is wisdom from you and when it is spawned from my wounds or our culture’s latest psychobabble. You detest sin but remain devoted to the sinner. I need your power to do the same. I want to love and do good to those whose actions I find really annoying, offensive, or particularly evil. Give me your love for others so I act like a child of the Most High God.

Please grant me everything I need – the grace, goodness, wisdom and mercy to love like you love and give like you give.

I love you,

Mollie