It was the worst of times for me; I was between jobs and had just become a single mom not long before this happened. One of the nurses, named Mark, had gone and told the CEO I had asked if he’d ever accepted Christ into his heart, (He was saying a lot of unkind things about people, and had some sad things to happen in his life, so I thought I’d help by asking a candid question, yes I asked if he’d ever accepted Jesus into his heart, but that was all I did) he told the CEO that I was shoving Jesus down his throat. He’d written letters and gone to the CEO, telling her I’d written those letters to him, telling him things like, “Jesus loves you, so do I, won’t you accept Christ today?” It was gut-wrenching when I was called in to meet with the CEO based on lies, and even though I could prove it wasn’t my handwriting and I said I didn’t write the letters, I was still the one asked to write a letter of resignation. It was a disappointing thing to know that one question could take you to such a dark place as a single parent.
It didn’t seem many people cared that I’d just gone through a divorce, and was trying to feed two small children at home. I was barely making it, and didn’t know how I would pay the rent at that time. I could not pay anyone back, and I also lost my income tax check that year. The government came in and swooped whatever return I got because of a FEMA return I’d received! HA! Needless to say, it was a very disheartening season for me as the sole provider and newly assigned breadwinner for my family. There was a lady I knew who ran a bible study out of her home regularly, which I was going to through Chase Oaks church, who had a “husband of means” at the time. She determined in her own right to give me thousands of dollars to cover all my bills for two months. She did not ask for anything in return; she simply gave from a heart of compassion and grace. I will never forget that lady as long as I live, for her radical yet supernatural way of loving me with that level of kindness at this time. She knew I had no way of paying her back, and until this day, I consider myself to be generous, but I’ve never given away that amount of money to anyone at one time yet, but it will happen.
In the context of this question, Jesus is asking. He’s calling to the innermost parts of our hearts, digging deeper into our motives. This is a challenge to how we view loving others. Put your seatbelts on, it won’t be what you expected, I promise. This love is never entitled to an excuse not to express itself outwardly. It is most certainly supernatural. Jesus says radical things like, “Love your enemies, not just those who love you!” In other words, you cannot handpick or select those you want to “love.” Love is a verb, and Jesus calls us to live in this place daily. He says mind-boggling things like, Do good to those who don’t do good to you, and Lend to those who have no way of paying you back. Why is He saying these things? I’m glad you asked, the goal of every believer should be to imitate Christ, and to do this we must be “perfect or merciful” even as our Father is merciful. Just as a child would look like his or her earthly dad, so we as children of God should resemble Him in our supernatural way of love.
There is a contrast going on in the texts, and it calls us to compare ourselves to those who are far from God as believers/followers of God. Jesus reminds us that we should NOT look or act like those far from Him. There should be something remarkably different about us that should cause others to say, “I’ll have what he/she’s having!” How is it possible to love people who hate you, be good to people who are not good to you, and lend to people without expecting a return? It is a call to live upside down, but in the same tone, right side up! We naturally love those who are easy to love, and shun those who are “testy”, yet Jesus is saying it’s time to allow His love to be poured into our hearts and love as He does. It is possible to love without limit, and we have the ability to make it happen residing in us.
Here are some thoughts for your consideration:
It is possible to live beyond the expected. (Ask God to stretch your capacity to love today.)
Aim to serve beyond what could be reciprocated by others. (Out-serve them with your love.)
This is our kingdom distinction as believers; we are called to an extraordinary love.
The extraordinary love I like to call AGAPAO is one that is embraced and lived only by one who loves and serves GOD as a kingdom lifestyle. It is loving without transactional mindsets. This love transforms hearts and goes above and beyond the world’s standard every time!
Reference Verses for this article:
Matthew 5:46-47; Luke 6:32-35
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