Sunday, July 30, 2023

I believe the threat of religious persecution was as real then as it is today when Jesus commanded His followers to show extraordinary love. Living in an Islamic context where one’s faith is always challenged and well-tested through the furnace of religious persecution and suffering, Christ’s command to love the enemy looks completely radical and outrageous. This persecution can be observed and experienced in many ways. It is multifaceted. A true follower of Christ can be questioned, judged, intimidated, and rejected by others. I often questioned and argued with Jesus, “Why do I have to love those who do evil in return for my kindness and goodness?” I showed the wounds and scars of my childhood to Jesus when I was bullied because of my faith. In my adult life, I have faced persecution and discrimination at work. Surprisingly, Jesus’ reply was an eye-opener: the world hated me first (John 15:18). And as a Christ-follower, we have to act in direct opposite to what the world does to us. So now, I understand the deeper meaning of love: I love because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). Since then, my heart is aligned with Jesus. May the Lord strengthen us all to love the unlovable.

My equipping reminded me that loving others means to share Christ and His free gift with them.