Love is a Spiritual Discipline

Love is a Spiritual Discipline

Cindy Sturgeon

⁴⁴ But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you— ⁴⁵ in so doing, you become children of your Father in heaven. He, after all, loves each of us—good and evil, kind and cruel. He causes the sun to rise and shine on evil and good alike. He causes the rain to water the fields of the righteous and the fields of the sinner. Matthew 5:44-45 (The Voice)

Why does Jesus tell us to love our enemies? Really, who wants to love their enemies?

How does your body feel when you hate?  I know I begin putting up walls to protect myself from some one or something that I hate or fear. My neck tightens up. My stomach is in knots. I cannot concentrate. I want to seek revenge. I begin putting together scenarios of what to do and they are never anything that will bring about healing.  I am hurt. I am pretty much miserable. I have given over control of my feelings to that person or thing that I hate or fear.

How does your body feel when you truly love? I know I feel happy. I feel at peace. I am looking for ways to make others’ lives happy and peaceful. I am giving.  I want to grow. I’m excited about life.

Jesus was willing to take on all the hate of this world because He loved us so deeply. He taught us to love unconditionally especially those who are hardest to love—our enemies. 

Loving our enemies requires discipline. Stretch yourself today and go out and love someone who is not so easy to love. Jesus taught us how to do it but it takes practice.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 (NIV)