It is  hard to love others sometimes. Christ had unconditional love for us, agape love. I have an easy time loving others when they love me back but to love the unlovable is a hard task that is fought with determination and intention.

Matthew 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It is so easy to be offended, to hold onto the past capturing the hurt and reliving the past. Unforgiveness rooted in justification is pride.

Phillippians 2:5

“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.”

When I am highly offended, I contemplate why I am offended. I have noticed in myself I am offended the most on things that I need to work on in my own life.

I will read Matthew 7:1-6

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

If I see things I don’t like in myself which  is usually the case I need to work on myself before trying to fix the same problem in someone else.

But if I am offended and have been wronged. I think of Peter. Peter called himself the one that Jesus loved. Brazen if it wasn’t true. Jesus and him were close. Peter denied Christ not once but three times when Jesus could have wanted him there. Peter ran and denied knowing him.

Jesus restored Peter. He didn’t live in the past. He didn’t tell all the other disciples what a punk Peter had been. He went to Peter directly and restored the relationship.

Pride is Satan’s way of justifying anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. Jesus never wanted that pain for us. He offers hope, restoration, and forgiveness. We are called to have relationships with agape love and really in the end agape love brings peace.

Prayer for today:

Please Lord let me love like you even when it is hard. In Jesus name, Amen