“Love your enemies, do good to them. Such counter-intuitive, revolutionary kindness will confirm you to be daughters and sons of Abba—the Most High God. For he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (pp Lk.6:35-36).
Heavenly Father, I’ll resist the temptation to qualify and “Yes, but” these verses to death. Rather, I want to marinate in and marvel at and the greatness of your mercy and grace for us in Jesus. Your mercies are daily, and your grace is measureless—this is stunning, but tragically easy to take for granted. If there is such a thing as being “re-awed,” re-awe us Abba.
You are kind to the “ungrateful and wicked.” We have no problem owning our ingratitude—for we indulge it every day. But in what ways are we “wicked,” Father? What could be more wicked than for us to be 100% forgiven by you, be 100% robed in Jesus’ righteousness, have 100% of your favor resting on us, and have 100% of the new heaven and new earth as our inheritance … YET to continue to nurse grudges, harbor resentments, hold people hostage to the ways they have failed and hurt us? Struggling to forgive is one thing; purposing not to forgive is another. Still hurting is one thing; weaponizing the hurt is another.
Father, you understand the messes we’re in; but you also understand we’re more “in Christ” than we’re “in” anything else. Many of us are involved in testy and testing relationships that have history and require wisdom. Your kindness first led us to repentance, and it still does. Our hardness and harshness will only lead in the opposite direction. Help and free us, Abba. So Very Amen.
