“But I say to you who are listening now to Me: love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred, Invoke blessings upon and pray fr the happiness
Say what? Bless those that hurt me? Invoke blessings on those who abuse you? What in the world…
This scripture is certainly one that can be hard to swallow because it is really requiring a lot of a person who has been hurt. Our typical reaction to being hurt is to want revenge and we dream about “paying back” someone for the wrongs they did. Why would we want to bless someone who hurt us? Why would pray for people who we feel don’t deserve that kindness?
We are human after all. It is natural to want to take action to return nasty favors. Sometimes we believe it might feel good to give it back.
But let’s look at what this verse is saying. It’s actually offering an out for us to let it go. It is NOT saying that the person in question will not suffer, I do believe what comes around goes around. But what it is saying …is it’s time (for you) to stop suffering. Stop reliving the actions that hurt so very badly. Let God take care of it his way, and he will take care of you for taking the higher road.
I’ve seen it happen enough in my lifetime to know that you get what you give. Things have a way of coming back to you. Good and bad. So one way to approach this is to take it in small steps. If someone slams a door on you, hold it for someone else. When someone does something really horrible to you, don’t work so hard to hold onto the wrong. Maybe that phrase “bless your heart” as they say in the south really works.
The hardest situation is when we are truly victims of someone else’s behavior. When you truly feel that you did not a do thing to deserve the wrong. This is when this scripture holds its most power. There is power in these words. There have been times when I’ve even prayed “Lord, I really DON’T FEEL like doing this, but I’ll leave it in your hands. Bless So and So and their families, for they know not what they do.” Even if they knew what they were doing, they likely have no idea what the spiritual consequences are.
Blessings to you, may you find your strength in the hardest moments. It’s not easy being us in this world today. And don’t worry if you find yourself not wanting to take these actions. You can always try again another day.
Word.
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