The Virtuous Daughter Magazine Fall 2017 edition Cherish | Page 42

made to the children of Israel that was
exceedingly human: an eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth. This is what
sinners do. It is what humans can man-
age on our natural strength and reac-
tions.
However, when Jesus came to earth,
He brought redemption for our bro-
ken humanity. His death takes our sins
and destroys them, and because of His
resurrection He says we are made into
new creations. Can you fathom that? A
NEW person? And better yet, a person
who is filled with the Spirit of God—
that means the Spirit of the one true
living God is dwelling inside of you
right now, restoring you, and making
anything possible.
Suddenly, the impossible is made pos-
sible. There is something inside of us,
deeper than ourselves, that is capable
of loving even when we are broken
down and hurt and offended and sad-
dened.
An enemy is usually someone or
something that is actively opposed
against us. When I think of a typical
enemy in America in 2017, it might
look like someone from an opposing
political party or spiritual ideology. It
might look like someone who takes
advantage of your time and energy. It
could be a girl who makes fun of you
to your friends. It could be someone
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1
2
Matthew 5:44
Luke 6:35
that makes you feel angry or
small or upset or meaning-
less. It might be your parent or
your sister or your classmate.
It might be someone who has
harmed you physically, mental-
ly, or emotionally. It could be
someone you just can’t stand to
be around.
Without the renewal in our-
selves that comes from Christ
alone, and without the Holy
Spirit’s presence to guide every
thought and action, we natu-
rally respond through a human
lens to every enemy: an eye for
an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.
A mean word for a mean word, and
an unfollow on Instagram for a de-
friending on Facebook. An angry word
for the silent treatment, and a political
disagreement for a punch in the face.
But Jesus now says, “Love your ene-
mies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for
those who abuse you.” 1 He also says
that the Most High is “kind to the un-
grateful and the evil” 2 and we are His
daughters when we are merciful to the
ungrateful and the evil, like He is.
If you want to love your enemies and
people who hurt you, you will have to
gain your strength from Jesus and de-
pend on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
With-
out total
dependence
and complete
surrender to Him,
your cause will be frustrating, difficult, and incomplete. To love like God loves
means we have to derive that love straight from the Source of it. This isn’t some-
thing you can force on your own or try to do so others notice how “spiritual” you
are. This has to come from Jesus, because it is a supernatural response.
Don’t worry if you don’t have that supernatural response yet. Just get down on
your knees and ask God—beg Him—to change your heart to be like His. Draw up
close and soak in His love for you. As His love overwhelms you bit by bit, you will
begin to love other people the way that God loves you: patiently, kindly, delight-
ing every time you are honest, enduring every pain, never never never failing.
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