But I say to you who are listening: 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
One of my favorite books is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. Perhaps you've read it. One of the most interesting characters in this tale, for me, is Smaug the Dragon. Greedy, evil, laughed about hurting others, very self-serving. Believe it or not, each of us have Smaugs in our lives, those who want your demise (personally, professionally, relationally). These people want to promote themselves by tearing you down.
Know a Smaug in your life? What is our reaction when our dragon(s) cause us pain and suffering? Anger, frustration, thoughts of revenge are our natural responses to the pain caused by our Smaugs. Sometimes we even try to involve God in our desire for retaliation and revenge, praying that God would do to them what they did to us (only worse).
Yet Jesus teaches a different approach. Not only did Jesus tell us to treat others in the same way we would like to be treated by them, He also teaches that we should pray FOR them, do good FOR them, LOVE them. All of which go against our natural responses. We have to DECIDE to follow Jesus' teachings!
And here's the kicker, praying for them, doing good for them, loving them...it's not FOR them! It's for US! When we change our perspective, God will change our hearts. Jesus never said it would be easy...He said it's the right thing to do.
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