I Remember How You Hurt Me!

This morning I was vacuuming my kids room and a memory seemed to randomly pop in my head. I remembered a comment someone made to me about having so many kids. They jokingly commented there were "ways" to control that i.e. birth control. What that person didn't know was that before our 3rd child, we had had an early miscarriage. Their comment came on the heels of a still sore place in my heart. As I methodically pushed the vacuum back and forth this morning, I started to get angrier and angrier thinking on that memory. I even remarked out loud what a terrible thing to say to someone. But before my rage became full blown, a scripture came to me. It was Luke 6:27-28.

“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. “ NLT

The KJV says " But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

The Holy Spirit helped to put a pin on my hurt and anger and think about the right thing to do. Suddenly I said aloud, "I need to pray for them!" And I did. I blessed that person, blessed their family, and asked God to prosper them. Now I'm going to quickly focus on the key words of this passage using the Strong's Concordance.

The word "enemy" used in this scripture is "echthros". One of the translations for that word is "hostile". God is telling us to love hostile people. An enemy isn't someone who necessarily challenges us to a duel or is outright continually vicious towards us. An enemy could be that person you encounter at work, the supermarket, or even at church who comes at you with hostility. These are the moments where their hostility can trigger your flesh and trigger a harsh exchange. God is calling us to return hostility with love.

The word "hate" is "miseo" which does mean hatred but, also can be translated as "to love less". Do good to those who love us less than they should... For some reason I immediately thought of my spouse! I don't mean he mistreats me or acts in a way that feels like the hatred we typically think of. In terms of marriage this can easily occur without being purposeful. Hating someone can be loving them less than we should. This just backs up and jives with scripture. Scripture constantly tells us to put others first, and put others needs above our own. I need to love others the way God has commissioned me to. When people love me less than I biblically deserve, I don't downgrade my love towards them. I am to do good to them. Return their less than what I deserve with more goodness than what they deserve.

The word "curse" is "kataraomai" which can be translated "to doom" but, also "to execrate". To execrate is to loathe someone or greatly dislike them. I'll be honest and say I really connect with this. Isn't there people that we just strongly dislike?! They may have done nothing to us nevertheless, they just get under our skin.Their voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and their mannerisms make the hair on the back of our neck stand up.

I can think of a specific instance where I was the offender. Years ago I encountered someone in a Christian ministry capacity, and I could not stand the way they prayed. I couldn't stand their verbiage, their inflections, and most importantly their awkward pauses. The way they prayed made my blood boil! I really struggled with every prayer encounter I had with this person. What should I have done? The same thing they should've done towards me, bless me. I should've been blessing this person's walk with God which included their prayer time.

It's a fact that not everyone will like us. Some people will hate us and can't even give us a reason. Bless them. Speak life over them. Speak prosperity over them. Speak good things coming to them and not evil.

Lastly "despitefully use" is "epereazo" which actually in addition to usury means, "to threaten, insult, or slander". When I think of despitefully use in light of this translation I think of someone who takes your help, then bashes you. This is the person who is friendly enough to get what they want but, will cut you down behind your back. We've probably encountered this one. This should be next to the definition of "mean girl". Let me borrow your clothes, your car, or throw a party at your house because you've got the bigger place. Yet later you find out, they were the one that started that rumor about you. You know, the rumor that made you an outcast? These types of people seem to have no soul and never show remorse. Nevertheless, God says pray for them!

God says to pray for someone who has been vicious to you, potentially damaged you, and acted so heartless. Why? Because when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) When we were undeserving God gave us His Son. And scripture also tells us that Jesus never ceases to intercede for us. (Romans 8:31-39) He's been interceding for us before we ever actually accepted Him and before we were ever born for that matter. In all that time, we've never deserved it. Pray for those that don't deserve it because God has always given us more than what we deserve, and spared us from what we actually deserve.

In this passage of Luke 6:27-28 we find words we need to live by. Carrying out this scripture is being obedient to Jesus but, it also carries another benefit. We are changed. By blessing, doing good, and praying for people who have harmed me, I am changed. My heart remains soft, bitterness doesn't take root, I am calmer, more patient, and more loving. When we walk out this scripture we are becoming more and more like Jesus. Isn't that the point?!