Hugging A Porcupine

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” – Matthew 5:43-45

It is easy to love people that love you back. Like sitting in a comfortable chair or hugging a teddy bear. All warm and snuggly, but that is not always the case, is it? Sometimes – perhaps more times than you would like, you encounter people that are unkind, unloving, perhaps even hateful and mean spirited.  It might even be someone in your own family or group of friends.  Pastor Rick Warren said, “Hurt people – hurt people.” It is more than the turn of a phrase – though it is that – it is truth. I am certainly not suggesting that you should be a punching bag – literally or figuratively, or a pin cushion – but, rather, I am suggesting this.

As Christians, we have the capacity and the opportunity to show the love of God to people who are lost and or hurting. That is if we have the right perspective on the situation we find ourselves in.  For nearly all of us, our “go to” is to defend ourselves when people curse us, hate us, spitefully use us or persecute us. Particularly if we are innocent and not complicit in some sin or wrong doing. I was just having this conversation with someone yesterday. They have a loved one who is hanging on to life by a thread. The loved one and their spouse, the whole family really, are stressed – fearful – and worn out. They have been on an emotional and physical roller coaster for several years.  In the midst of a recent critical medical incident, there were some things said that were unkind to my friend.  They were struggling with the hurt it caused and the fact that what was said did not have a seed of truth. They were struggling with the hurtful words that were said to them. With the rejection they felt.

The person I was talking to was clearly hurt and told me that they had done no harm. My advice was this – “You need to absorb that and not hold it against them. Think of it as a gift to them. A sacrifice that you are making as you see them struggling to just hang on. It was not really a personal attack – even though it felt like it was. Almost like a betrayal.  Remember that together they have been facing impending death for years. It has taken its toll on them.” I was thinking of the words, “Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for them.” I find it interesting that, as Christians – being a reflection of Christ – salt and light – we can agree that the Word of God is good and right until we are offended. Then it is “Katy bar the door!”

“… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another..” – Galatians 5:22-26

What I was asking the person to do was spiritual not natural. To ask someone who is not a Christian to do something that is inherently spiritual, is asking them to do the impossible. The fruit of the Spirit is something that is independent of our circumstances and flesh but totally dependent upon our spiritual condition.  If we live by the Spirit – and if you are born again you do – then walk in the Spirit – under the influence of the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit enables us to respond supernaturally and not with our flesh. I did not give this advice as though it was theoretical – something that I had read somewhere – “Do as I say, not as I do.” Some years ago – I was the one under attack and a Brother told me to not respond – that God would vindicate me – that I should “hug the porcupine”. And so I did. That memory, just now, brought to mind another scripture …. Something else was at work in this conversation – I was passing along the comfort.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ..” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone