Crosswalk the Devotional - May 24, 2010
May 24, 2010
Enemies... You Gotta Love 'Em
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28, NIV Bible
What's the hardest thing to do?
No, this is not a trick question. And no, the answer is not "whistling after eating saltines." Or "keeping a straight face when an unsuspecting person sits on a whoopee cushion."
The answer, my friend, is this: Loving your enemies.
A few weeks back, the Lord called me on this very thing. You see, someone had backed into my car's rear bumper. I was a bit startled, but quickly got out of my car to check for damage. Naturally, I assumed that the other driver would quickly get out as well-perhaps to offer an apology or at the very least to inspect his vehicle for damage.
Imagine what I thought when nothing happened. Unbelievable! That's right-the driver did not get out of his vehicle. Instead, he had quietly pulled forward into his parking space, as if the entire incident had never even occurred.
I stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do. Am I dreaming this or did this guy really hit my car? Finally, I started walking slowly toward his driver's-side door to see if he was going to at least roll down his window or something. But ... nothing. Well, there was something. Through the heavily-tinted windows, I did see the driver slide downward in his seat.
At that point, I decided it would be safer to get back into my vehicle than to continue in my pursuit of righting a wrong. For all I knew, the driver could have been one banana peel away from going postal.
That night, I didn't sleep a wink as I went over and over and over this scenario in my mind. I had begun to question what had really happened: Why had this guy hit me? Why wasn't he showing any remorse? Did I deserve what he had done to me? Why couldn't I just let this go and fall asleep?
The next day, a funny thing happened. I felt a sense of release almost immediately after I awoke. Now I don't know how, really, because I hadn't even prayed about it yet. I had only stewed.
But the Lord showed me right then and there that I needed to let it go. There was nothing more I could do and getting upset and rethinking the entire situation was not going to help me. And it certainly wasn't going to help me "bless" the one who had done me wrong.
So just like that, I let it go. Because it is not at all in my nature to let go of wrongs done to me-especially not so quickly-I can only credit the Lord and his work in my heart that morning to help me get closer to loving my enemy.
May I continue to get out of the way, so that God may show his love to my enemies through me... and in spite of me.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Has someone treated you poorly recently? How did you respond? Did you have an internal struggle before you turned it over to the Father? As you are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will be able to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
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