‭Luke 6:27-31 NLT‬
[27] “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. [28] Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. [29] If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. [30] Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. [31] Do to others as you would like them to do to you. https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.27-31.NLT

I don’t like these verses. I don’t want to listen to them! “Love your enemies.” “Bless those who hate you.” “Give, and don’t try to get things back.”

“Be nice. Play nice. Share. Treat others the way you want to be treated.”

We are taught these things when we are little – and if we aren’t teaching it to our children, well, shame on us! If you watch any news, on whatever media you use, we aren’t doing a very good job of teaching tolerance and kindness. The American Democratic Party of love and tolerance is leading the way with violence and hate. The religion of love, Islam, produces the most vitriolic hate and horrific acts I’ve ever seen or heard of. Christians, who should be leading the way in promoting Christ and being the example of the greatest love ever experienced by man, are among the most vocal liars and cheaters (just look in Washington DC and the White House).

What to do, what to do.

Well, what would Jesus do?

Don’t ask me! I am a horrible example to follow. Love my enemies? Pray for those who have hurt me? Don’t try to get back the money I was scammed out of, or the things that were taken from me? Turn my other cheek to the boss who lied to get me fired? What about the husband who cheated? Am I just supposed to forgive them all?

FORGIVE. That’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. I rely on Matthew 6, the Lord’s Prayer, especially this:

‭Matthew 6:14-15 NLT‬
[14] “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.14-15.NLT

Forgive. It’s not an emotion or a feeling, it’s a conscious act that will probably have to be repeated multiple times. When those familiar feelings of betrayal and anger and hurt start to rise up within me, it’s up to me to make that decision – again! – to forgive that person or persons. Don’t think it’s going to be easy, because it isn’t. The only way it is possible for me to do it, is to pray and rely on the strength that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Try it. It’s amazingly freeing. Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice that makes it possible. Left up to me, I’d just be a ball of seething frustration and hate.

And there we have it, the reason our world is in such bad shape. To use a well-known phrase, “No Jesus, No peace.” Do you have Jesus? If not, He’s just waiting for you to ask Him. He loves you. He doesn’t turn anyone away.

It’s good to be back.