“I hope they took some Bibles,” our host said humorously as we stood in the middle of the ransacked living room.
Scattered books, piles of clothes on the floor, couches out of place, open cupboards and drawers, a missing DVD player, and the sour aftertaste of a break-in. This is what we walked into when we first arrived at our location for the month. Our contacts had been out of town for a few days, and they returned home to find out their English center had been broken into during their absence. This was also the same day we were arriving. And the English center also happens to be our home for the month.
After the police came to examine the place, we were finally able to tidy up and settle in. Instead of anger and fear, there was peace. Our contact took a few minutes to pray for and forgive the people who had broken in, and there was never an ounce of insecurity in us. We felt safe and protected even as we walked around the place cleaning up after the robbers.
Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I often remember this part of the Bible only after I have let my anger and frustration vent out. How many times do we actually love those who act against us immediately after they have wronged us? How many hours have we spent talking about what a total jerk that ex was? Is that loving? Is our first instinct to stop and pray for the people who hurt us? Or does the prayer come after we’ve been filled with guilt from speaking poorly about them for so long? Why does it take us so long to forgive?
You can only give what you have first received. We love because He loves us. What if we gave out some of that free, unconditional, selfless, forgiving love that we have received? What if we stopped holding grudges and lifted up prayers instead?
