For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Gal 5:14 NIV
I must love my neighbour, says Jesus.
Who is my neighbour?
My neighbour is my workmate or my boss.
My neighbour is the pimp who kidnaps my daughter.
My neighbour is the homosexual who wants to seduce my son.
My neighbour is the terrorist who threatens me.
My neighbour is the prostitute down the street.
A Christian woman had a daughter who went astray. She had a bad boyfriend who led her away from God's ways.
Then the unthinkable happened. The mother heard that the bad boyfriend had murdered her daughter. She was devastated.
On the way home, the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart. She must forgive the murderer. But not only that, she must visit him in prison. Then the challenge became really extreme. She had to accept him into her heart as her own son.
She couldn't do it all. She prayed fervently for the help of the Holy Spirit and received the grace to do the impossible.
As she continued to visit the man in prison and pray for him with God's love, his heart softened and he turned to Jesus.
After many years, he was released from prison. Now the mother and adopted son are a team. They go around sharing their testimony.
Should we pray for our enemies? According to Jesus, yes. But should we seek close friendship with every prostitute and drug dealer? Of course not.
If your husband rapes you, throws you against the wall and brutally hurts you over and over again, should you stay with him? Of course not.
It's about placing your heart in the hands of Jesus so that God can cleanse your soul of resentment.
God is love. You can ask God to help you see difficult people through the eyes of God's love.
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