February 2022 SGN Scoops Magazine

Love Regardless By: Rhonda Frye Back in the 70’s Linda Ronstadt sang about how easy it was to fall in love. It is easy to love someone when they return it. Verse two says, “Look inside your heart to see what your love book has set aside for me.” It is nice when love is reciprocated, but even when it isn’t, Jesus said, love anyway! “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full” (Luke 6:32-34). It’s important to understand, this kind of love is defined by God, and involves choice. It means to act in resonance—likeness of God’s nature as Jesus lives through us. It is acting in that person’s best interest. Serving goes hand-in-hand with loving. Thankfully Jesus modeled how to love an enemy. In John 13, we are told Jesus knew His time on earth was about finished and He was determined to love right to the end. He loved those who loved Him, and He loved Judas—the one He knew would betray Him. And we know the story, Jesus washed his feet. I believe John tells how Jesus was able to show such

kindness to Judas. Verse 3, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe and tied a towel around Himself.” It didn’t matter how much hatred was brewing among the religious leaders or how much hatred was brewing in the heart of Judas! Jesus knew Who He was, He knew Whose He was. He also knew what He was supposed to do and where He was going! With that confidence, He humbled Himself and loved His enemy. When we embrace Whose we are, who we are in Christ, as well as God’s purpose for our lives, and where we’re going when it’s all said and done, we too can serve our enemies. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We are God’s sons and daughters. He designed us with purpose and called us to build His Kingdom. And, we have an unbelievable inheritance coming. With that confidence, we can LOVE those who give nothing in return. We can LOVE those who plot our down-fall. Jesus continues in Luke 6, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (NIV). God, help us to love…..regardless!