“…What do you do more than others?” Matthew 5:47

Love’s Command

The monumental love of God leaves me in breathless wonder. Nothing and no one loves like He loves. I can love my husband, love my children, and love my friends. I can love those who agree with me and like the things I like. I can love friendly, helpful neighbors who mind their own business and do nothing to annoy me. That’s not the love of God.

In Matthew 5:38-47, the Almighty is plainly telling me not to resist an evil person. That’s not just someone who disagrees with me or annoys me. He is speaking about a person who hates, who seeks to destroy, and who wants to ruin those things I hold dear.

He is telling me to turn the other cheek. Have you ever been slapped in the face? It stings and burns and it ignites an instant anger to strike back. Why would I turn the other cheek? Don’t you know he’s just going to slap me again?

Then the words of Jesus tell me to give more than is demanded of me. What they take from me isn’t theirs, it’s mine, and yet they demand it. What right do they have to take it from me? It’s hard earned and it’s mine by right. Give them what they ask, and add even more to it? That’s an insane generosity.

He tells me to go farther than I have to go. He’s telling me to do more than the minimum requirement. Do what is needed to be done and then do some more on top of that. Go the second mile.

He tells me that when someone asks something of me, I should give it. Whoa! I don’t know what they are going to ask. Maybe it’s something valuable to me, a prized possession even. Maybe they will ask too much and I will suffer lack. What if I never recover what is given away? This is risky business.

 “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44). That is God’s love. It doesn’t make sense. It is not reasonable. Indeed, it is the unreasonable love of God.

Frankly, I confess I’m not there yet. May God help me to love as He loves and fully understand what that means. This is not a natural love or a natural response to evil, opposition, greed, and obnoxious ill temper. There is only one way that I could ever love like this and that is for God Himself to break through in me. If I get out of the way, I can willingly allow Him to love with His staggering love through this pathetic heart.

“Father, Your love is militant, radical, and immeasurable. This is how You have loved me. Be the enabling power at work in me to go and do likewise. Amen.”