Luke 6:32 - Tough Love (Bible Journal)
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them (Luke 6:32 NLT)!"
Jesus' Words nail it - is loving someone that already loves you and treats you well really tough to do? It's loving those that treat you poorly, grate on your nerves with their actions, or refuse to cooperate and/or compromise that is hard to do. Yet Jesus did this very thing, even asking for forgiveness for the people like this that were nailing Him to a cross and cheering about it. The other hard fact that has to be accepted is this: we ourselves are also flawed and likely treat others poorly at times, we likely grate on the nerves of others, and we probably even come off as uncooperative to some around us! We need forgiveness and love despite our flaws, and we need to extend that forgiveness and love to those that we struggle with too, so that everyone gets what they need.
Lord, thank You for today's reminder through Your timeless Words. Please forgive me for the times that I fall short on a regular basis, and please help me to forgive others that do the same - especially those I struggle to get along with. Thank You for modeling how to do this in Your Word, and thank You for never leaving me in the process. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.