Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Isn’t it amazing that while Jesus was up on the cross, in excruciating pain, prayed to the Father to ask for forgivness for the soldiers who were about to mock Jesus, for the rulers who didn’t believe, and one of the criminals being crucified alongside Jesus that despised Him. The most surprising fact is He prayed for them BEFORE the series of humulitation and mocking were described in the Bible.
The more I look into the life of Jesus, the more and more I realize that He IS the ultimate/perfect example for use to follow. It is important to note He did everything in His ministries as a man, a being made of flesh who experiences the same thoughts, tempatations, hurts, emotions, pain, weaknesses, etc. as we do. And yet, His life is still spotless and shows us how we should live our daily lives.
For me, loving others usually comes easy, because I am just so darn nice 😉 ! I haven’t really experienced someone who abuses me, or treats me like trash, and I am most thankful to God for that. But, that doesn’t mean that people who come into my life in the future won’t be so easy going and friendly. That only encourages me to pray for them now just like Jesus prayed prior to receiving abuse. I need to constantly prepare my heart to produce tough love for when the time comes so that I will be able to forgive them, because I’ll know they are in bondage to sin and they need my light to shine in the dark areas of their lives, and need the LOVE of God to transform them!