I was challenged today to walk in love. Real love. The love that is defined in 1Corithians 13. I read it and immediately responded "that is impossible to do". There has to be a more 21st century translation. After a review of my dozen or so translations, nope they all say the same thing. It is unnatural to love my enemies, or pray for my enemies. It is unnatural to be kind when you are hurting or extend a hand when someone has slapped yours. It is unnatural and it is very hard to do yet it is a command. One that God said if I (we) do not get right, everything else we do is in vain. And on top of that, we are charged to forgive. If I do not forgive others, he will not forgive me so I have to get that one right to because Lord knows I cannot have anything blocking my forgiveness. I need ALL OF IT.

Yes, it is unnatural but possible. God does not give impossible instruction so I must get with it.  The core fruit of the Spirit is love and all the other fruit is a manifestation of that. Okay, Lord I need a lot of help with this one. So how exactly do you respond in love ALL THE TIME is my posing question. I will be back when I get the answer....................

Next day:

I think I have it. All day I pondered the Love Command and asked myself what is the greatest example of love in the bible. What immediately came to mind was the Lords crucification process. When Jesus was in the midst of being beaten, spat on, falsely accused, flogged and crucified, he cried out to God the Father and said "Forgive them for they know not what they do". I thought about that statement a lot and pondered what it signified. I also examined what Jesus DID NOT do as it related to those he had prayed for. Jesus although he was suffering greatly, was not angry. He knew it was not personal. He knew that he would be crucified. He knew his mission and the Father had already revealed to him how this was going to go down. He knew that Satan was his enemy, not man. He knew that man was just the tool that was being used to bring to pass what needed to occur so he could be resurrected and in turn offer me (you) eternal life. WOW!!!He had to suffer in order to be elevated. He had to die so he could return to the right hand of the Father. He had to die and rise so I can be redeemed. It was all in the plan. It was the plan.  So I take away from this not to become angry or vexed by my enemies. I need them to crucify me so I can rise. I must have the Gethsemane experience before I have Kingdom living. I need the process so I can go to the next level. It is not about them at all.  I recalled the scripture that says "We wrestle not with flesh and blood but principalities, and powers and the  rulers of the darkness of the world" . Evil is behind the attack. Man is simply what is being used and they haven't a clue.  "...For they know not what they do". So if I know and fully understand that it is not the man I see but the spirit behind the man, how can I be angry with man?" Oh, how I appreciate perspective.

The other part of this is when Jesus said this to the Father, he did not deviate from his process. He did not make them friends or invite them to the fish fry with the disciples. This I think is where I was struggling because I interpreted a position of love to be one of a intimate nature. No, no, no! He did not try to convert them from foe to friend. Those true to him were with him and he knew those that were not, were not. He did not spend precious time trying to build the friendship club. So now, I have a better understanding. I can pray for my enemies, wish them well (I do not have to invite them out to dinner) and I do not have to try to get "even". I have spent a lot of time trying to get even and it is such a draining and venomous effort. Vengeance is the Lord's he will repay. He does not need my help. God says that when I pray for my enemies it is like heaping coal on their heads so when I get the urge to strike back, I will simply heap a whole lot of coal and pray.

What a difference 24 hours make when I just listen. Thank you Father!