Good morning and happy Friday-eve!
I pray that your week has been productive. My study time this morning and week have had my wheels turning.
Matthew 5:44 has been heavy on my heart and today’s verse hit me with the double whammy.
See, I’ve been thinking a lot about the heart the Lord has.
How He can love those that curse Him… those that despise Him and then turn around and call on Him in the time of trouble. 🤔
I even thought about and REALLY sought to understand how Jesus could be ridiculed and cursed while sacrificing His life for the world…. even while hanging on the cross, only to respond with a spoken request to God:
“Forgive them father for they know not what they do.”
This week, my prayer was that God show me how to have that type of PEACE and walk in that type of LOVE …. but I’d still been seeking out the, “How?“
How do you protect your peace when you’ve been wronged while trying to help someone…. only for those same people to come seeking help again?
How do you bless those that curse you?
How do you pray for those that wrongfully use and accuse you?
How?
Through compassion.
That simple word answered all those questions for me this morning.
No, we don’t allow ourselves to become someone’s doormat, but when our FIRST response is compassion, we put down the burden of offense and respond like the sons and daughters of God.
It’s not necessarily easy, but we have an example to follow and a promise to stand on.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Fix-It With Fran 