Love and Let God

Here over the last few days I've been focusing my attention and my meditation on Luke 6. This chapter is part of the sermon on the mount. When it comes to my marriage I have had a lot of trouble trying to look at the situations that demand that this is the way that I should look at things but there is a lot of this text that really applies to me.

But if you are willing to listen, I say, love you enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you. Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)

This has to be the way I look at the situation with Stormy. She has hurt me, and she has continued to not love me even though I have done my best to show her love. This situation has baffled me completely. It seems so simple to me because I have the God given ability to forgive. But she has decided to curse me as opposed to love me back. I didn't really realize this until this last weekend. I have been doing absolutely every thing I could for her and hoping for something in return. That something was love. Unfortunately this does happen to be a bit of a self-seeking attitude, and this has also been demonstrated in my frustration as I expect her to appreciate the things that I do. This has been one of the keys all along, I've been doing things for years trying to get some sort of recognition, some sign of love to help fill up my love tank.

This attitude has been wrong. As I look at this scripture, I am to love her without expecting anything in return. If she wrongs me, I'm to "turn the other cheek". As people this is hard, but we have to remember that Jesus asked us to take on the attributes of the Father. God love which is layed out in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is only possible with Christ. This is something that we are to continue to strive for, this is the kind of love that draws the unbeliever in. I have to say that no matter how I strive to reach this lofty goal, I will always tumble when I let myself get in the way of Jesus.

By loving our enemies we allow God to change hearts. There is no guarantee that this is going to be much more than an effort that will continue to bring me pain, and heartache, but this is still a worthy goal. Marriage is holy and it should remain that way. When ever that bond gets severed, the only real way to fill that gap is through love, and this can be very hard to do. I'm finding out first hand, as I desire more and more that Stormy change, I can't make her change, only God can do that. That is why we are told to pray for those who hurt us. It seems as the more time passes since she left, the more painful the things that she say become. I know that part of this is because I do feel empty, but I have to allow God to fill up that emptiness. Love draws people, that is why love is so incredibly difficult. We will not receive any great reward for just loving the people that love us, we get our rewards for loving everyone, even the unlovable.

We are to be giving and kind to people even when they hate us and curse us. Look at the example of Christ when they were preparing him for the Crucifixion, the people all around him were cursing him and hating him, he wasn't exactly what they thought that he should be. Even his closest friend Peter denied even knowing him. Jesus still asked the father to "Forgive them because they know not what they do." If this is the attitude of Christ then this is the attitude that we should have as believers.

I do want my wife back, but if I'm to pray for her happiness then that is what I will do. And if God sees fit to either bring her back or to give me a different mate then I will be able to enter into the relationship with a clear conscience and not a guilty one. I have to humble myself and allow the cross to show through me to do this, it isn't an easy task that I require of myself, but it is the only hope that is left. Love and Let God.