"Haters"

"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?" - Matthew 5:44-46

A few years ago, I was complaining about someone to my father and he told me, "Audrey, there are no bad people, only hurt people." Those words have stayed with me ever since because he was right - those who criticize and try to belittle us only do so because something or someone hurt them first. They can only give to us what was given to them first. Ever since having my eyes opened to this, nothing upsets me more than when I hear people talking about their "haters" and the venom with which they reply to the situation. How does that make it any better? How do you think this makes God feel when He created you and your "hater" both as His children… neither one of you being more important to Him than the other? Scripture says the Lord knows us inside and out, so He knows what we each deserve - the good and the bad - yet He still gives us all the same beautiful sunrise each morning. Who are we to decide that one of His children, regardless of how cruel they've been to us, deserves anything less than love from us? No one can decide this unless they see into the heart of that person the way God does every day. Is someone constantly criticizing you? Maybe no one ever made that person feel they were worth anything. Is someone always talking about you behind your back? Maybe they see in you a confidence they never had in themselves. Is someone always giving you a hard time no matter how hard you try to please them? Maybe all they're looking for is your attention in the only way they know how to get it.

I'm not saying it's fair or acceptable, but those who are on their worst behavior with us are the ones who need Christ the most, even if they never acknowledge it or change. You and I are blessed to hear the Word of God and know it is better to respond in love than it is in anger. We are called to be like Jesus who sees the hearts of people, and therefore, always responds with mercy and never with vengeance. It is the same mercy He will show us when it's our actions and mistakes that are on the table.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, most times my initial reaction is anger when someone is nasty to me or does something intentionally against me, but You ask that I remember who I am in Your love. You ask me to respond with the mercy You show me when I'm the one who has messed up. Change my heart and make me more obedient to what You ask of me. I also ask that You bless those who hurt me and let them know Your love. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Lumineux: Letting God's Light Shine
www.lettinggodslightshine.com