Glory to Jesus Christ!
Isn’t it totally characteristic of our Lord to give us instruction such as this? Do unto others…..!
I mean, I don’t ever think about what I’d “prefer” for others to do with/to/for me. But when the idea is couched in the way that Jesus does today, it forces us to think in those terms. “Is what I’m about to do with/to/for this person something that I would be pleased about if it were coming to me?”
Now all of a sudden there’s meaning to my actions that I’d never before considered.
But this is not YET “Over the top.”
If we go to the topic of this piece, let’s look first at the Lord’s words about love. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Well, I guess I never thought about being given ‘credit’ for loving. But I can see where He is leading me. I mean, I’m EXPECTED to love people who love me.
Who “gives” me love? Again, it’s expected from family, from spouses, from parents, from children,….. Love is something associated with family, certainly.
But where else is “love” found? Perhaps some of us have friends who fall into the category of being loved by us, and us by them. But if this is true, how do we define love? Webster says that it is ‘a strong feeling of affection and concern toward another.’ OK, that makes sense in both the family and the friend example.
But now Jesus takes us “Over the Top”. How?
Love your enemies.
Does He really mean that? YES! He does!
So, I’m supposed to have feelings of affection AND concern for someone who at the least does not like me, and in the cases of some, one who may even hate me? Is that what Jesus is saying?
YES! It is!
Think about it for just a moment. I would hope to be considered to be a child of God. That would make me family. Jesus spoke to His disciples and called them friends. If I’m a dedicated follower, then I should fit into that category as well. So I want to think that love from God ought to be easy—for Him.
But love is typically not seen as being ‘one way’. In family and in friendships, love is a two-way street, it is given freely and returned freely.
But is this the way that I love God? Am I a giver AND a taker, or just a taker?
How often do I offer thanks for His gifts (His LOVE) to me? How often do I go to Him and offer heartfelt apology (repentance) for things that I know I did wrong? How often do I return actions that in human terms could be couched as “hateful”?
I can hear you ask, “Hateful, Father? Do you think I ever behave in such a way?”
Only you can judge for yourself. I can only speak for me, and my answer is, “Yes.” There are times that my interaction with God borders on what humans would see as hateful. When I know there is someone in need and I make the choice to ignore them. When I schedule time to pray, then turn on the TV. When I promise to fast and then overeat.
Now it is I who am “Over the Top”.
Jesus goes so far as to lovingly explain to me that I must love my enemies, I must do good, lend, hoping for nothing in return. Do you hear those words? He’s not saying “expecting noting in return,” but rather HOPING for nothing!! In short, take what I give you—I don’t want anything back!
He is certainly “Over the Top” in human terms. But He loves someone like me who doesn’t exactly show Him the love that He deserves. And what does He promise for this?
Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, a promise that is truly "Over the Top." What a loving God we serve!
Glory forever!
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