If you remember my comments from last week, you will know that well, I got my feelings hurt. By hurt, I actually mean shredded! Hmm…what to do? Do I confront these people, let it go, or ask someone else to handle it? I asked but had no answer. Then, the next morning, as the situation was still in the forefront of my mind, I heard it! I was bent over the sink, washing my face and heard these words…“what would love do?” I stood up, surprised and amazed! I never thought of it that way before! Quite frankly, these were not exactly the words I wanted to hear! I wanted God to say, “I will smite your enemies and they are in big trouble for hurting you and they’ll be sorry!" (Just being honest!) So, I kept repeating that phrase over and over, “what would love do?”
I began to think of the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified translation. I’ve read it a multitude of times, but not with this perspective, so I read it again.
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Of course, the passage, “it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong] stood out like a sore thumb! Another translation reads, “It keeps no record of wrong-doing.” I knew what I had to do – forgive. There are times when we are to do the scriptural thing and go to our brother that has offended us (Matt.18:15) and there are times when we are directed to do otherwise. For me, I was just given a simple question. “What would love do?”
I knew the answer. Love would do what Jesus, love incarnate, would do. Love would do what 1 Corinthians described. Love would do what Matthew 18 instructs. I knew I had to forgive, release these people, and not keep a record of their wrong-doing. But then, I received a new instruction – to pray for them…what?! Pray for them…why?! Was forgiveness not enough?
Then, I recalled the scripture, "to pray for those that despitefully use you.” I have done that, in the past, but this time I understood it differently. Unconditional love wants nothing for itself. In other words, IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!! I needed to understand that these people had set a universal law in motion that you reap what you sow. They, and their gossip, had sown hurt and discord, among other things, and it was going to re-visit them. Galatians 6:7-9 puts it oh so plainly!
Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
I needed to pray for God’s mercy on their souls! I felt compelled, all of a sudden, because I do love these people. My heart was moved with compassion and anger quickly vanished. Love was on the move! God’s love, in us, can actually do this! 1 Corinthians 13 isn’t unattainable! It’s not just a pretty verse to read at weddings or to put on greeting cards. It is our banner – Love is who we are and what we do because we are His likeness in the earth. It’s by our love, that they will know we are His disciples and thereby, know Him. No wonder we are to “eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love and make it our aim”. (1 Cor. 14:1) In this love is our completeness and wholeness in Christ. In this love is also our ministry to others. In this love is freedom to forgive and be forgiven. In this love is our destination…every minute of every day.
What would life look like, what would the world look like, if we made love our aim? What would just our day look like if we just asked the question, and did so often…what would love do?
