Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your father in heaven.... 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus... He calls us to some high standards. How many of us can say we did this today? How many of us can say, "I have prayed for those who have done me wrong"? Jesus is calling us to do just this. He knows that it is so hard to love those who we feel are treating us poorly. But two things I know: 1. Jesus loved me the whole time I treated Him badly and put him on the back burner and His grace and love were unconditionally there for me when I finally understood the depth of His love 2. We cannot call someone to a deeper degree of love and relationship if we do not love them and treat them with kindness despite how we feel about them.

My goal is to give grace. Jesus gave me grace, now I must in turn give that "Jesus grace" to others. There is no one who lives up to Biblical standards better than the person sitting next to them. And so, I want to remember that I must first look in the mirror and worry ONLY about myself and how much love I am giving, how I am making people feel. If I am constantly concerned about how others are not living up to my standards I will miss the opportunities to love them where they are at and to grow in Jesus love (a love that is without condition).