Love

But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.  Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong.

Matthew 5:44-45 (CEV)

Love seems to be the lost art.  Even for Christ followers we forget to love.  Oh, we can love those who do good things for us.  And we can love those who are kind to us.  We are quick to love those who are pleasant around us.  But we need to be reminded of Jesus words.  If we are to be followers of His we must love those who abuse us.  Who persecute us and mistreat us.  I love how the CEV translates this passage, so that we can be like the Father.  He does good to all.  The sun rises on the good and bad.  He provides rain for those who do right and wrong.  The lesson for us here is that we need to show love even to those hardest to love.  We may break through their tough exterior and they may see the truth of the gospel.  Regardless, our call is to be like the Father, not like those who mistreat us.  It is a hard thing to do but for the Christ follower, we should seek to be like Jesus!

What are you doing?

I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me.They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged to [do] this good work.19 When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard [about this] , they mocked and despised us, and said, “What is this you’re doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”

Neh 2:18-19 (HCSB)

When God calls us we often begin with excitement and anticipation. But when God calls us to join Him in His mission we must also anticipate opposition. These gentlemen try to discourage and threaten Nehemiah and the people from their God given task. Expect to find a nay Sayer, a discourager even an antagonist when you begin the Lord's mission.

Unfortunately, you never know who the antagonist may be. It might be a family member, an older (should be maturer) Christian or someone outside of the fellowship of faith. Keep in mind that they always have some kind of ulterior motive. They will have their agenda, plan or fear that you might mess something up for them. Sometimes they may just not understand God's call and plan for your life. They may not be listening to His call in their life.

Don't be surprised when opposition comes. Just remain faithful and watch God work through you!