Love your cell phone customer service agent????

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. ... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?" (Mt 5:43-46)

Have you been given an “opportunity” to be obedient to the command to love not only those who love you- but those who don’t- the difficult people?  How has it gone for you?  I had a great opportunity that REALLY STRETCHED my patience, mouth and that whole bit on being SLOW to anger.(1 Cor 13:4-8)

It was a cell phone carrier- trying to remove a phone from a program.  After 45 minutes of “opportunity” I can truly look back and say it wasn’t my best, but I was trying. Really, in retrospect, the person on the other line probably thought that I was unlovable.  She really did better than I at being patient, kind, etc.!   So, by His grace, I’ll get another opportunity!?!?!   Don’t you think that so often I can deal with difficult people with more grace and love when I realize the grace and love that God has shown me an shows me daily?

Then I think of the story of the unmerciful servant: 

      “...the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 

So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Mt 18: 21-35

Here a king shows tremendous compassion forgiving a un-repayable debt when asked by the servant.  That's grace!   However, the servant- free from his debt- went and found another slave who owed him a very small amount in comparison.  Rather than showing grace like he received from the king, he demands justice from his fellow servant.  Others see the injustice and cry out to the King.  The King who is not only compassionate, but just as well.  So He uses the same measure of judgment the servant demanded from his fellow slave. 

  

How does this figure in with love?  Well.  I guess I thought of my impatience and lack of love for that cell phone associate.  I treated her like the slave that was ungrateful for all the King has loved on me.

 I hope you are thinking this week about how agape love this week.  Love well my friends.