J. H. Jowett said, “It must be the aim of a Christian to make his enemy lovely. It is not my supreme business to secure my safety, but to remove his ugliness”. That’s a tall order for those of us short on ability. Not only is it a difficult duty we also have to deal with the lack of desire. The willingness to do it is often harder than the work. When we think about how we have been hurt by our enemies it is rare that we want to help them. In most cases we are more concerned about revenge than we are about restoration. Wanting them to pay for the evil they’ve done we aren’t willing to pay the price to help them get better.
But, assuming we do desire the best for them, we are still faced with what seems to be an impossible task. We know that due to their character that they aren’t likely to cooperate. Sometimes our efforts are misunderstood and mocked. When all is said and done we are left with only one hope, one means whereby we have a chance of helping them. That one thing, as the Lord tells us, is love. If a person refuses to respond to love they won’t be changed by anything else. The threat of punishment or the promise of reward might alter their course for a moment, but it won’t produce any change in their character. Nothing short of unconditional love can do that.
The question is “Where do we get such love?” It’s not something we have by nature, nor something we can gain by strong resolve. Such love can only come from the Lord. The one who requires it from us provides it for us. However, it is not until we are overwhelmed by the greatness of His love for us that we will be able to overflow with love for others. That being the case, the person with the greater need for change is often us rather than our enemies. They are sin sick and our failure to love them is like withholding the only miracle medicine that can help them. That being the case the first thing that needs to change is our love for the Lord. That is the fountain from which all else flows. So, to renew your love for others review God’s love for you. That’s the spark that will ignite the fire of affection in your heart. That alone will enable you to love those that are unlovely and unloving. As long as you love them you leave the door of hope open that can lead to their change. Don’t allow their rudeness or lack of response to deter you from your duty to love them. Keep the door open! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
