I have been fortunate most of my life not to be aware of many of my enemies. I say "not aware", because I am quite sure that there are plenty of people who don't like me - I just don't know who they are. Similarly, there are people that I don't care to spend time with. I wouldn't really call them enemies, more just annoying. Said another way, they don't do anything for me. As I have gotten older, I find it easier to be "nice" to them when I am around them. I can pretend that they aren't annoying for a bit. I believe pretending to be nice is better than being mean. But then, when I am outside their presence, they are the butt of my conversation with those inside my comfy little circle. My true feelings show.
In Matthew 5, Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
Loving those that love me is nothing special. Anyone can do that. The Greek word "periousios" is best translated as "peculiar", and that is one of the ways the Bible describes how Christians should be. Someone looking in from the outside might think, "Why is he behaving that way? He seems to be treating others so kindly even in the face of ridicule. He seems so peculiar." I want to try to be more peculiar today.
My thoughts today are inspired by Chapter 12 of "The Cost of Discipleship".
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