Are there people you do not like? Maybe someone at school or a kid on your soccer team? Is there someone who has been mean to you; called you nasty names; picked on you? Do you have some one who falls into the category of enemy or frenemy?
I have people in my life who have hurt me. Some have hurt me through their words and some through their actions - - we all do. And it would be easy to turn one negative word or one negative action into another; to give what you get.
And if we are honest, we all probably have returned the hate someone has given to us back to that person tenfold.
But, we are called to be different. We are called to be Christians.
As Christians we are called to something higher something better something...we are called to be like Jesus.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenged common human beliefs - at the core of those human beliefs was "do unto others as they have done unto you". Instead Jesus taught us that we are to love our enemies...
He said, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31)
You wouldn't want someone to pick on you or to call you names. You wouldn't want someone to leave you out of a game or to ignore you at lunch.
You would want someone to say to you, "You are pretty." Or "You are kind." You would want to be included in the team or at the lunch table.
You would want to feel loved and to be loved.
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Love your enemies - or your frenemies. Show them kindness. Show them that you are different in the very best sense of the world.
Instead of finding what separates you, find what pulls you together. Even the smallest of commonality can be a bridge to eternal love.
Love your frenemies - - it's not always easy - - but it will always be worth it.
Scripture (click below)
Luke 6:27-36
Fun Fact....Top Ten GUMY Memory...
#8 The first year I was a youth leader, we had four adult leaders and about three youth kids who were regular attenders. One of the other youth leaders discovered the 30HR Famine and thought it would be a good activity for the kids.
We had two eighth graders and one seventh grader and we proceeded to fast for 30HR at the church. Despite the hunger, we had a great time...but by the end of the 30HR we were supposed to break the fast with just beans and rice. One of the girls complained for the final two hours that she hated beans and she hated rice and she wouldn't eat any of it.
When we finally served the break of the fast meal, she licked her bowl clean. It no longer mattered what she was given to eat. She was just thankful for the food. It was amazing to see the transformation in just a few hours.
Of course, we ended the beans and rice with a junk food blow-out...but the kids didn't know that when they got their beans and rice!
Question of the Day?
What is your favorite frenemy relationship on TV?
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