Bible Reading: Luke 6:32, 35
If you have $1,000 in your pocket how hard is it to give someone a quarter? It’s not too tough. When you have plenty, it is generally expected that you will share with those
less fortunate. While that kind of giving is kind and generous, it doesn’t take much to believe that God will continue to meet your personal needs because you still have plenty of money to use to provide for yourself.
However, if you only have $.25 and someone asks you for that $.25, giving it away is much harder. If you are courageous enough to trust God to provide for you and willingly give away that last $.25, God will greatly reward you for having such great confidence in his ability to provide for you.
Love and forgiveness works in a similar way. Today’s Bible reading says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?...But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great…” Loving or forgiving someone you like is much easier than loving or forgiving someone that you don’t like.
God is pleased whenever we love or forgive anyone, but He is especially pleased when we love or forgive someone that we don’t really like. Thus, the reward that God gives us for forgiving our enemies is greater than the reward He gives us for forgiving our friends.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to love and forgive everyone, even those who have wronged me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.