No Excuses. Unless...

Something I have been thinking about a lot recently is how much time many of us spend looking for the "Unless".  

We know the Bible is full of things we should be doing to follow the commandment of loving others as yourself.  (Mark 12:31)  Which is difficult to do sometimes.  Really difficult.  This leads to us trying to make excuses and justify our failure to love on others. 

I'll be honest.  Sometimes I wish it was there.  The unless.  

Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:31 NLT) 
Unless... your neighbor is really annoying 

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44 NIV)
Unless... they were really mean or hateful and just don't deserve it

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matthew 5:42 ESV) 
Unless...  you really want or need it for yourself. 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31:8 NIV)
Unless... you are too busy to get involved

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4 ESV)
Unless...  you believe no one is going to look out for you unless you think of yourself first.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV) 
Unless... what they did was so terrible that they don't deserve to be forgiven.

But you know what?  It's just not there.  No where does Jesus ever say it's OK to be selfish, or jealous, or prideful, or hurtful.  No circumstances that make it alright or that justify it.  

Only...  Love your neighbor.  Love your enemies.  Love others

Just... Love.

My Love Dare: Day 25

“What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 2:10

Day 25: Love forgives

Unforgiveness is like a prison. But not a prison for those who have hurt us. Not a prison for those who have wronged us. Not a prison for those who have wronged us. The only one held captive by our failure to forgive – is us. We are trapped by the bitterness and anger we hold onto.

Freedom is within our reach. We just have to let go of the hate, the pain, the anger, and offer forgiveness.

We may feel the person doesn’t deserve forgiveness. We may feel they owe us an apology. We may think they need to pay for what they have done. We don’t want to let them off the hook.

Forgiveness isn’t about absolution of blame.

It isn’t about leaving yourself open to more hurt.

It isn’t about forgetting what happened or pretending it didn’t hurt us.

It’s not about winning or losing.

It is about letting go. Letting go of the anger and the responsibility of judgment and making someone pay – and releasing it to God.

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ Says the Lord.” ~ Romans 12:19

TODAY’S DARE: WHATEVER YOU HAVEN’T FORGIVEN OF YOUR MATE, FORGIVE IT TODAY. LET IT GO. JUST AS WE ASK JESUS TO “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS” EACH DAY, WE MUST ASK HIM TO HELP US “FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS” EACH DAY AS WELL. UNFORGIVENESS HAS BEEN KEEPING YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE IN PRISON TOO LONG. SAY FROM YOUR HEART, “I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE.”

I thought and thought about today's dare - and honestly could not come up with a single thing! Not one tiny hurt for which I need to forgive the man of the house. 

I did pray for God to examine my heart and show me any areas where I might be harboring some anger or bitterness and to give me a forgiving heart.