Loving Those Who Bother Us.

Dodger:  Hey there!  How are you doing?  Good, I hope.  Lilly here actually looks kind of angry, but I don't know why.

Lilly:  Very perceptive Dodger.  I'm actually very angry.  I ran into the class bully earlier, and he insulted my bow and said it looked lame.  I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing.  But I'm really mad!  I don't know what to do.  How should I handle something like this?  I'm irked, for two reasons.  It's not just that the bully is mean, but the fact is that I couldn't respond in a good way.  If I had thought of anything to say, it would probably have been just as bad.  If he does something similar later, I'll still be unsure what to say.  It's perplexing and annoying.

Dodger:  Well, I actually have an idea.  Have you heard the phrase, "Treat others as you want to be treated"?

Lilly:  Yeah.  But does that apply to class bullies?

Dodger:  Yes, actually it does.  Jesus says "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."  (Luke 6:27-28 NKJV)  The best thing to do, Lilly, is to show love to him, do good things for him, and pray for him.

Lilly:  How and why should I do that?  That sounds kind of weird, actually.

Dodger:  I'll explain.  I know what you mean, but by "showing love to others" I don't mean the weird gooshy stuff you see in the movies.  The Apostle Paul actually does a really good job telling us what love is.  He shows what we should expect from it.  Let me tell you what he says in one of his letters to the Corinthian church.  He says:

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV1984)

That's a pretty simple explanation of love.  To show love to the bully, you just do what Paul recommends.

Lilly:  But it's harder than it sounds.

Dodger:  I know, but there's actually a reward for doing it.  You'll be rewarded by God for doing what He wants.  He says "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21 NIV1984)  He promises us a great reward in Luke 6:35-36.  He says:  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil." (NKJV, underlining added)  Most importantly, by showing kindness and love, who knows?  You may just lead the bully to Jesus.

Lilly:  That's neat.  I think I understand your point.  We need to treat our enemies as we would treat our friends, because that's what God wants.

Dodger: God actually did the same for us, you know.  He sent His Son to die for a people who had been disobeying what He told them, sinning against Him, and even insulting Him.  He showed love to us when we were His enemies, as Paul says in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  God showed love  towards us when we were His enemies.  Now we need to do the same to others.

Lilly:  Knowing that actually makes it easier to do what He did.  But I don't think I can do it alone.

Dodger:  That's okay.  Anything God asks us to do is not impossible, because He'll help us to do what He wants. Luke 1:37 says it well.  "For nothing is impossible with God." (NIV1984)  Don't worry Lilly.  Everyone including you can do it, because God will help make it possible.

Lilly:  That's great!  I'm glad to hear that I don't have to do it alone.  I think I know what I'll do when I see the bully again.

Dodger:  What's that?

Lilly:  I'll ask if I can pray for him.

Dodger:  Great idea!

Lilly:  Looks like we're out of time.  Thanks for hanging out with us today!

Dodger:  See you later!  Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!

Lilly:  Adios!