1 Peter 3:9-

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Have you ever wondered how it is possible to walk in love with your enemies, or with people you love, who offend you repeatedly?  Naturally we don’t think of “showing love” when we think of our enemies or those who offend us.  We generally move right into the emotion of wanting to withhold our love…

God’s love is the anchor and engine of our love!  That in spite of offenses, we can still show genuine love, because our love doesn’t rest in the acceptance or disregard of others.  So even if our enemies don’t want love, we can express it.  Or the ones we love offend us, we were never dependent on them for the love we truly need.

What the Lord wants to guard our hearts from is the inability to receive love, and love others unconditionally.  When we have our love set on how people may treat us, it limits our hearts to trust and be open, to give love and receive it!

God desires our hearts to be a “wellspring” of love that flows (John 4:14).  But too many times we allow others and their careless remarks and actions to “clog” it up, stifling our joy and peace.  Jesus desires for our hearts to rest, as His did on the cross for us!  That in spite of the world’s offenses, His love poured out!  Consider His words while dying, “forgive them Father for they know not what they do”(Luke 23:34). Root your whole heart in God for love, it is truly unshakable!

In His Love, Ld