Love those who you Hate. How easy IS it really...

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

Matthew 5:38-42

For me personally, I don't find it TOO hard to love my enemies...only cuse in the end, I feel better about it anyways. Why not forgive someone, when it all comes out for the better? In fact, when I do not forgive someone, when I hold a grudge against someone...it kinda doesn't feel that great. I wouldn't feel great; the person with the grudge I have against wouldn't feel that great.

But I know, there is always another part or aspect of you...that just can't let go, that does not satisfy or make you feel good...that they are going to be let off the hook for doing such wrong to you.

But in the end, why do we forgive? because Christ forgave us. Why do we love? because Christ loved us. If we do not love, and if we do not forgive...how are we like Christ? we are not.

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"

1 John 4:8

My struggle is always forgiving with the right intentions and motivations. Most of the time, i just do it for the FEEL GOOD of it. Or perhaps make the other person feel good about it, and then have them think diff (in a good way) of me, and eventually for other people to notice my difference...amongst other people.

but here is a VERY...important...cut difference between your actions. Are we doing it, because Christ does it, and we wanna be like Him (Kevin: how DARE we not love another [the least you can do] when we see Christ's full love for us). OR...are we doing it...NOT because of CHRIST. How could love/forgiveness NOT be because of Christ? When simply, it's not because of Christ lol...when you're not thinking "I'm doing this because of Christ"...that "Christ did all this for me, poured out all his love for me, so I should do the same to others". Which sadly isn't most of the time how I feel it seems. Like I mentioned in connect group, I always feel a benefit when I do these things, it's like a show for other people almost, that "I" am so great. "I"..."Me"....(you see the difference, not God). "I" have the power to forgive, so I AM SO GREAT. I glorify myself. you, see just from looking at that, I just see such a huge problem with just a glance. That's a clear cut glory to "yourself" and not God. This just leaves me.. dumbfounded (probably wrong word, whatever).

The mindset def it's powerful and important...right?

I struggle with this difference (between God's glory, and my glory) a lot. Maybe I just over-analyze this a bit too much. I don't know if I made any or too much sense here in this blog lol.

Like, the clear difference: One way to 'love' is for Christ, and with Christ in mind...the other way to 'love' is through your own feelings...your own power.

Dear God,

please humble myself and break me down for the human I am...

Amen.

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Oh yea, and is there REALLY such thing as unselfish love?

People tell me all love is selfish....

But some people also tell me...there is such thing as Unselfish love or "true love".

My question was, I thought that no one on this earth had unconditional love except for God. And...isn't 'unconditional love' kinda similar or the same as "unselfish love"? Can we have unselfish love, and not unconditional love? Because unconditional love consists of...you not having any conditions or benefits in return to your "self", which doesn't that translate to NOT being "selfish". But if they're the same, and God can only have unconditional love, then what does this mean?? can we still have unselfish love? I am sorry I just hafta...dig deep like this. And I'm told I over-analyze a lot..but you know..that's my tendency..sorry guys.

I actually don't like it that much when people ask questions like thsi, but I'm asking it asking it myself...it's cuse I usually don't know how to answer it, and people just keep askin.