The Most Difficult Way
What Reward Will You Get? – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 5:43-48

Key Verse: Matthew 5:46

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

Yesterday’s devotional reminded us that we must learn to love our enemies if we expect a reward from our Father in heaven!  Let’s take a closer look at this love that God expects of us.

To love a person who is spiteful and mean to us is very difficult.  To accomplish this we start in prayer; praying for that person, asking God to bless them and help them.  We pray for ourselves; asking God to do a divine work in us in order for our love to be authentic.

Next, we realize that we must take action.  Action must always take the lead and trust that our feelings will follow!  It is very difficult but we must look for ways to bless that person.  We might start by simply speaking kindly to them.  We could look for some way to help them with their work.  It is amazing how offering a helping hand can stop a mean spirited person short.  They hardly know what to say or do.  Romans 12:20 refers to this action as “heaping burning coals on their heads.”  In their day that was an action that produced a positive effect.

Celebrate Recovery has a term that says: “Fake it till you make it.”  Maybe that is not a bad way to look at this difficult task.  You are determined to love an unloving person—so you fake it until you make it!

Father, I want to love like you do.  I know my feelings won’t cooperate but I will act out of faith and trust you to help with my feelings!  In Jesus’ name, amen.