When I read the bible each morning, I find many scriptures that could be considered one of the toughest passages to live. Such is the case for today's text.

John 15:12
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

First notice what it didn't say. It didn't say love just those that love you back because Christ knew what it was like to love a group of people who stared Him in the eye and yelled, "Crucify him". It didn't say love only those who are kind to you or who does things to make you happy. If the truth be known the things we do each day probably causes more grief to the heart of God than actual joy but He loves us anyway.

So I accepted that this scripture means everyone including my enemies.

Now notice what it did say: "...just as I have love you." How much did He love us, enough to die for us. So when you put it all together, we are to love everyone (including our enemies) enough that we would die for them.

If I were to begin loving my enemies that much I wonder if they would still be considered my enemies or would that love actually produce a friendship that I wrote off a long time ago just because they hurt my feelings or caused me pain?

The truth is we say we love God but how much pain do we cause Him by the way we live everyday of our life? You would think that we would treat Him better if we actually loved Him the way we say we love him.

Prayer:
"Lord, I realize that some of my enemies are no more against me versus me just not caring for them because of some circumstance or incident. Help me to love everyone just as You love me. Reveal to me right now those people that I need to make contact with today that I need to start loving."