To Love as He loves is the goal of our spiritual maturity. His love does not delight in the demise of bad folks. He hurts for the consequences of bad decisions. He loves enough not to interfere with reaping what we sow; His own love is His inner pain, the source of His tears. We often feel a twinge of delight when folks get what is coming to them. We secretly cheer for the pain of others reaping thorns; Jesus feels those not just on His brow, but in His heart. His love does not passively sit by; it is actively working for the redemption of everyone. He loves all; we selectively love folks like us. We love on our side of the fence; His love has no fences. He wants the best for all; we want it for the worthy ones. He is Love; we must become love. The gap between my loving and His is too great; I am not yet made perfect in Love. I see it. I feel it. I confess the gap. Help me, oh Spirit of my Father.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43–48 ESV).
