Day 60 – Loving after the pattern of God’s love
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” Luke 6:32-33
We should regard it as no virtue at all, nor any true imitation of Jesus, if we merely return the love that is given to us. Jesus is teaching us the distinct character of the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, and we can expect that character to look radically different from the spirit of this world. We claim – and truly possess – something the world does not: we are renewed, repentant, and redeemed by Jesus Christ. We are equipped with a divine power others lack, able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We have the Holy Spirit Himself dwelling within us, and we are anchored in a glorious, eternal hope for the future.
In loving those who oppose us, we directly reflect the very heart of God, who demonstrates extraordinary love toward His enemies and shows kindness even to the unthankful and the evil. As Charles Spurgeon so insightfully asked regarding God’s patient goodness, “What does God say to us when he acts thus? I believe that he says this: ‘This is the day of free grace; this is the time of mercy.’ The hour for judgment is not yet, when he will separate between the good and the bad; when he will mount the judgment seat and award different portions to the righteous and to the wicked.”
This is our blueprint. We are called to love our enemies and extend blessings to them whenever we can. In doing so, we prove ourselves to be children of our Father.
Pray with me: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me mercy and grace when I was far from You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that my life reflects Your divine character. Help me to love unconditionally, extend kindness to the unthankful, and live as a true child of the Most High today. Amen. ©
Love, Iriza
