#love #waterwalkinggirls

All week we have explored love: Christ as love in human form, acting in love, showing others you are a Christian by your love, allowing love to bind us with other Christians, and loving ourselves. Now comes the hard part…love your enemies.

Do you think you have enemies? Often we think of enemies on a grander scale such as countries that are at war or groups who battle one another.  An enemy is a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. Hostile means unfriendly. Now think again…do you have enemies?  I want you to choose one of your enemies and specifically have him/her on your mind as you continue to read. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Matthew 5:43-44 

Jesus spoke these words as part of His “Sermon on the Mount” which occurs in the Bible just after He returned from His 40 days and nights in the wilderness and time of temptation.  Now think about your interactions with your “enemy”. When do they occur? Where do they occur? Often times we receive our greatest opposition from others when we are doing something for good with the purest of intentions.  Now think about what may be causing that person’s hostility towards you? Is there something you have done that you need to rectify? Or is thepushback initiated solely by your enemy?  In a Beth Moore Bible study I once participated in, she called someone who is actively opposed to you a sandpaper person.  A sandpaper person is someone who may be abrasive and rubs you the wrong way. By definition sandpaper has a thick, abrasive surface and is used to smooth and polish. Aha! That’s how we should treat our sandpaper person, aka our enemy. We should allow our interactions with our enemy to help smooth and polish us into being more like Christ. How can we do that?1) “Kill ‘em with kindness,” as my Uncle Archie used to say.  Whenever we are around our enemy/sandpaper person we should be extra nice. Let’s not match the hostility with more hostility but go above and beyond to be nice to the person.  However we must be aware that just because we are being nice does not mean that person will return our kindness.  In fact, our kindness may cause more opposition initially. Think now about your enemy and when you may encounter him/her again. How can you kill ‘em with kindess? What can you say or do that is kind instead of looking for something in that person/interaction to upset you? Do you need to change your attitude towards him/her?2) Don’t worry about opinions. In her book Girl Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis says, “Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business.” People form opinions based on their own experiences, beliefs and fears.  In other words, don’t allow the opinions of others to cloud your focus or cause you to fear moving forward with your actions for good. Just be sure your actions reflect love.  Think about your enemy.  What could have caused him/her to oppose you in the beginning? Could he/she be insecure in an area you are confident and strong? What could be the true basis of your enemy’s opinion or the way your enemy feels? Be empathetic as you examine the perspective of your enemy. 3) Pray for your enemy. Be intentional about praying for your enemy. Every day circle your enemy’s name as you pray.  Pray for insight and wisdom.  Pray for your sandpaper person to feel God’s love through you. Most importantly and perhaps the hardest part, pray that God will work on your attitude and perspective towards your enemy.   As you pray, examine yourself.  What causes you to oppose your sandpaper person? How can your words and actions change to make your interactions with him/her be more Christ-like?

As you go about your day and weekend, be intentional about examining your relationship with your enemy. Plan how you will “kill ‘em with kindness.” Set aside time to pray specifically for your sandpaper person. Allow your rubbing interactions to push, stretch and smooth you as a Christian so that you may become more like Christ by being and instrument of love. Love your enemies!