“Pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
There’s a story from the days of the American Revolution about a pastor named Peter Miller who was a good friend of George Washington. A man named Michael Wittman lived in the same village as the pastor and did all he could to oppose and humiliate Miller. One day, Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Miller rode his horse seventy miles to find Washington to plead for the life of Wittman.
Washington said, “No, Peter. I can’t grant the life of your friend.”
“Friend?” said Miller, “He’s the bitterest enemy I have!”
“What?” said Washington. “You rode 70 miles to plead for the life of your enemy? That puts the matter in a different light.” Washington then released Wittman, and he and Miller rode back to their hometown no longer enemies.
This Sunday we will think about the need for people who oppose us. Sometimes our tormentors are people who just seem to enjoy persecuting us. Sometimes they are in our own families and are people we live with! At Valentine’s, we think of the importance of love and we usually think of love as being built on warm, positive feelings. But at some point, love experiences differences. and the way we handle the differences defines love.
If we need a love that avoids differences, we will probably have only shallow relationships. But if our love sees differences as opportunities to grow and improve, we will have relationships that are not only enduring but ones that make us stronger.
A love that supports others even when they oppose us is a rewarding love indeed.