Bless 'em...

Dear friend,

I want you to imagine the setting. Jesus had just selected the twelve disciples, the crowds were following Him everywhere, the Pharisees and Sadducees were livid at Christ for living out the Word, He had healed on the sabbath and defied all of the laws, and asserted Himself as Christ. He was coming down the mountain with a large crowd waiting, everyone is waiting, they need and want to be healed, delivered, and set free. He begins one of His most famous sermon's "The Sermon on the Mount" (see Luke 6: 20-22). "Blessed are they that... I am sure that the crowd was leaned in and overwhelmed, Jesus was literally pronouncing a blessing for the poor, for those that had been in mourning, for those that were meek. I can imagine people getting excited and celebrating their hardships. As He is finished up with "the beatitudes and the woes" he says, " But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those whom mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well (See Luke 6:27-29).

( sound effects screeching halt) Wait.......Hold Up now..... I can imagine the looks in the crowd, I know my face would have read, Do what? Love who? and treat them how? and you want me to do what with them? Bless 'em? I am sure a few people wanted to get up and pack up their stuff. I mean Jesus apparently has lost His mind, if you think I am getting ready to bless someone who has mistreated me, talked about me or let alone "put their hands on me." You are out of your mind. This is what you are requiring me to do. asking me to do? Maybe I wasn't listening.

I can imagine Jesus looking over and saying, "Yes this is the requirement for true love. Imagine "unconditional love" is really what it says, unconditional, it is not based on the other person's actions but based on the fact that I truly operate in the God kind of love (see 1 Cor 13:4-8), one that forgives, forgets and loves us in spite of all our own evil. God never asked for us to love by human standards, He asked for us to love by His.

Friend, I have a policy now that helps me with this, any time I get into an argument with someone, I immediately bless them and if I am feeling irritated or upset by someone, I will immediately bless them as well. I do it quickly and apply the WORD to the situation and I have seen it work. The irritation leaves, the desire to "tell them like it is" changes, and it is easier for me to forgive them. I even say a prayer "Bless 'em, Lord!" I have found It is easier to release and let it go. Perhaps Jesus was on to something. He understood that it was better for us to deal with our enemies this way instead of wasting time and energy on un-forgiveness and hate.

Blessed by the Best,

LMJ

Check Out This Throwback Coffee and Conversations: The Beatitudes, Blessed Are The Poor in Spirit https://youtu.be/CKZFgFCSGJE