But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭44

Even though we sort of recognize the wisdom in some of Jesus’ teachings, they’re still pretty annoying to put into our lives.

I’m fine to pray for you. I’m fine to tolerate you. To a point. While it’s not disrupting. While it’s safe and sanitized.

But as society has made it acceptable and even warranted to cancel people, to force judgement, to victimize in the extreme and to demand not just penance but justice, grace often becomes a fleeting memory rather than an active expression of life.

And the tragedy is that we have slipped toward this way of thinking too.

How often do I judge in my heart while forgiving with my lips? How often do I not even worry about forgiveness?

It’s good for me to attempt a stance of gratitude for the mercy shown to me. In this way I can extend grace to others.

Not to normalize the failings of the vices of sin. But to expose the humanity that may still be salvaged in the wreck that addiction always causes.

Jesus doesn’t expect us to permit all things to all people while they’re finding their way through life.

But he does expect us to soften our hearts enough to be participants in their recovery rather than executioners at their sentencing.

This of course doesn’t always play out well. But we can use prayer to seek the will of God, to implore the salvation of others, and to thank Him for the way out we’ve been lucky enough to walk.

God, keep my heart soft—relying on your strength not my own.