A Holy, Messy Love -- Hard to Love

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series A Holy, Messy Love

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:35-36

Who is My Enemy?

We often think of someone hard to love as a homeless person, or perhaps that difficult co-worker who rubs us the wrong way. Those examples might certainly be true, but I would also challenge that those very nearest to us are often the hardest to love at times. Our closest friends and family members know us the best, their opinions matter the most and because of this, they have the greatest ability to hurt us.

Intimacy with our closest family and friends requires the most risk.

I’ve written about how marriage is like sandpaper. We tumble and bump against each other in these deepest relationships, and God smooths off our rough edges. This is painful work.

Reflect on Luke 6:35-36.

Today’s challenge: Do a loving act today for someone who is acting unlovable. Do not tell the person why you are doing it — allow this to be a gift of service to God.

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A Holy, Messy Love