The Nice and the Nasty

Matthew 5:43-48 (MSG)
^43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
 ⁴⁸"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

*enemy:  one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent.

I have tried to live my life with "The Golden Rule" in mind.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I can honestly say that I do not know one single person that absolutely "hates my guts" so to speak.  I am an easy-going guy that tries to treat everyone how I would like to be treated.  I stay away from trouble that way.  It still seems unavoidable.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

One of the hardest things to do is love someone who intends to cause you harm.  Someone who intends to cause you strife and disrupt your life is not worth fighting.  Let God handle them!  Show them love and "kill them with kindness".  Jesus said the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.  Think about that!  If everyone were to have that mindset, how different would our lives be?  No bickering over pesky things.  No fighting, and on a larger scale, no murder.  People would not feel empty and feel the need to turn to drugs and alcohol to feel happiness.  Our world would be a completely different place.  God knew what He was doing when he inspired this scripture.  It works if we apply it!

No matter how hard you try you will never be able to please everyone.  It is nearly impossible.  People are different.  They come from different backgrounds and have diffeent personalities.  That can be a very good thing or it can be a very bad thing.  Unfortunately it does cause strife and if it is not diffused it turns for the worse.  Whoever said "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me", lied through their teeth!!  Words can cut you to the bone.  Words can destroy a person.  We can cause more damage with our mouth than we can with our fists!  I truly believe that!  We are bound to have people in our life that come against us for one reason or another.  But whether they are "nice" or they are "nasty", the Word of God says we are to love them.  It takes discipline.  It takes prayer.  So, just remember the next time you have to deal with someone intending to cause you harm or strife in your life, just love them.  It will mess them up!!!