Day 6 - Turning the world upside down

Most of us are familiar with Patrick Appleford’s hymn: Lord, Jesus Christ, you have come to us. I was recently reminded of another of Appleford’s hymns O Lord, all the world belongs to You, with its very simple line: What is wrong, You forgive. In the second verse we read/sing:

The world’s only loving to its friends,

but Your way of loving never ends,

loving enemies too; and this loving with You

is what’s turning the world upside down.

Heavenly Father, why do we find loving others and forgiving them so hard? All around us we see families riven by discord – and we feel powerless to improve things. We know you desire that love is the foundation for all our relationships and we thank you that the Bible teaches us everything we need to know about love. Amen

It is easy to look at John 13:35 (NIV): By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another and decide that this instruction is for Christians only to love other believers. (Even this is a tough ask sometimes!) But Jesus did not leave it there. In his sermon on the Mount, Matthew records Jesus saying:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you … If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Mt 5:43-46 NIV)

Loving Jesus, you taught your followers to ignore traditional teaching so that they could love their enemies, do good to those who hated them and pray for their persecutors. If everyone followed this wise teaching, Lord, war would cease. Show us how we can create a peaceful environment in our homes, church fellowships and workplaces. Give us your wisdom as we intercede for all who harbour grudges where holding onto that pain hurts themselves and not their enemies. Amen

Perhaps this Scripture verse would enable us all to become supreme forgivers: We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19 NIV). This sentiment is embedded in the Lord’s Prayer: Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others (Mt. 6:12 The Message). The author of 1 John continues: Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4: 20-21)

Holy Spirit, pour God’s love and forgiveness into us and convict us that we should pour forgiveness on everyone we consider an enemy. We have strived to do this in our own strength; we need help and you can provide it. Amen.

Elaine Kinchin