Love because God loves.

When we surrender our relationships to the rule of love, God transforms our perceptions of the people who hurt and betray us. Instead of seeing enemies, we recognize fellow humans suffering in traps of sin and self-deception, much as we ourselves have suffered. God advances the kingdom of heaven through our offerings of love and forgiveness, especially to those who have set themselves against us. Instead of retaliating with harm as the world expects, we learn to soothe and heal and restore relationships with redemptive and holy love that flows through us from God’s own heart.

Ponder

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Luke 6:27-28)

Pledge

With God’s help I will allow God’s love to transform my anger into compassion and my bitterness into understanding and the desire to bless those who have harmed me.

Adapted from A Devotional Walk with Forgiveness by Judith Ingram. Copyright © 2011 by Judith Ingram.