September 26: Insight Post by David Schleyer
Weekly Reading: Luke 6:27-36, Matthew 5:43-48
Friday Reflection
Loving Our Enemies Leads to Transformation: By showing love to our enemies, we open the door for transformation both in their hearts and in ours. Jesus calls us to go beyond the ordinary, and this love can be a powerful witness to the world.
Friday Verse
Instead, ‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.’ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:20-21 (NLT)
Friday Questions
How can I let love, rather than hate, guide my actions in difficult relationships? What steps can I take to bring about transformation through love?
Friday Insight Post
by David Schleyer
Loving our enemy is one of the clearest instructions in the Bible, yet it is also one of the hardest for me to live out. When someone frustrates me, it feels natural to push back, avoid them, or quietly hold on to resentment (which leads to bitterness). Maybe it is the neighbor who never has a kind word, the driver who cuts me off, or the person who always points out my mistakes. In those moments, I find it easy to assume the worst and write people off.
But perspective changes things. When I stop and try to see beyond the surface, I am reminded that people often carry unseen struggles. That shift in perspective changed how I approached a vendor I once worked with who seemed to make every project harder than it had to be. Deadlines slipped, excuses piled up, and I found myself frustrated before our meetings even began. By trying to gain perspective, I realized he was not my enemy, even though I had labeled him as one. As we talked, he shared how his family was walking through a hard season, and it helped me understand why his focus had slipped. I asked if I could pray with him, and to my surprise, he said yes. That moment broke down the wall I had built in my mind and opened the door to a new relationship.
This week, I am reminded to challenge myself with the wisdom that can be gained through perspective, and I want to leave that challenge with you as well. Who is that person who feels hard to deal with right now, and how might a change in perspective help? What small act of love could you offer without expecting anything in return? Sometimes the biggest transformation does not happen in the other person, but in us.
David Schleyer
Elementary Small Group Leader
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org