Affinities

 

9/20/2020

Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am far from perfect. Boy am I imperfect, so how can I ever live up to this verse? It is from the section that Jesus was talking about loving your enemies. Now that is a tough one for sure. Jesus says in verses 44&45, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Really? Even those that cause me or someone I care about pain? Yup, that is what I have to do, for it is easy to love those who love me, but challenging to love those who don’t. Chambers writes, “In the spiritual life beware of walking according to natural affinities. Everyone has natural affinities; some people we like and others we do not like. We must never let those likes and dislikes rule in our Christian life. ‘If we walk in the light as God is in the light,’ God will give us communion with people for who we have no natural affinity.” Truth!!!!

I have had God bring me into relationships with people whom I have not had a single thing in common with. At the beginning, I could not even imagine developing a camaraderie with these people. This has happened with both believers and non-believers over the years. Sometimes these relationship turn out to be the most precious and fulfilling, often wrapped in the question, “Why are we friends again?” followed by laughter. Yes, when I have gotten out of my own way long enough to actually listen to God’s leading, beautiful things happen.

So I encourage you, dear ones, let in those people that God puts on your heart, even if – or maybe especially if – you have no affinity for them. You will be a blessing, and I can promise you will certainly be blessed.