Unified by His Love

Chris was only ten years old when he was abducted by a male nurse who had cared for his elderly uncle. The kidnapper burned him with cigarettes, stabbed him with an ice pick, and shot him, leaving him for dead in the Everglades. Chris survived, but the bullet, which entered one temple and exited the other, left him blind in one eye.

Yet years later, when the kidnapper—by then a blind, elderly nursing home resident—confessed to the crime, Chris reacted in an unusual way. He went to see the man who had tried to kill him and offered friendship. He began to visit the man daily and read to him from the Bible, even taking his young daughter along. Chris stated that it was his faith that enabled him to release his bitterness and forgive.

As Christians, we are asked to live lives that reflect the love of Christ. He instructed us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). But that vertical relationship is just one part of the equation. He included the horizontal—our relationships with others—when He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). And we must love everyone regardless of social position, age, gender, race, or nationality, recognizing their dignity as children of God.

Perhaps the most difficult part of loving others is forgiving them, but it’s not optional. Jesus said we must “forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12) in order to receive God’s forgiveness. Most of us aren’t victims of horrendous crimes, but sometimes we may have trouble forgiving even small infractions.

How can we forgive more easily? The key is love. It was love that fueled the forgiveness Jesus showed to those who persecuted, tortured, and killed Him. And it is only through His supernatural love within us that we can truly forgive others and live in the unity God desires for us.

Apply It:

Ask Jesus to fill you with His love so you can be ready to forgive.

Dig Deeper:

Luke 23:34; John 17:20, 21; Luke 10:25–37

Key Bible Texts

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)