When People Hurt You

2022-08-22

Why does it always seem, that on many occasions we try to reach out to people, only to get it smashed back in our faces? Often, it seems that whenever we try to open up, somebody shuts us down.

But what does the Scripture say? Whether friend or foe, the answer is the same.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)

Did you see the first quotation? “...a man lay down his life for his friends.” Could we say that love hurts? It must, because loving others will lead to rejection sometimes. That is what happened to Jesus. He laid everything down to reach out to people. Some turned to Him. Some nailed Him to the cross. Whatever it was, Jesus knew the only way to love others was to empty Himself of everything He knew in heaven. Jesus knew He had to lay down His life, for that was the only way He could save humanity. He intentionally became vulnerable to love others, caring not about the consequences.

And the life of Christ is the blueprint for every Christian who follows Him. We also must lay down our lives. This is anything from setting aside our agenda to dying. Whether they love us in return or hurt us (intentionally or not), the answer is the same. We do this for other people’s sake. We must. Let us pray for each other to that end.

This is not to say that anyone should intentionally stay in some dangerous situation. Sometimes the best way to love someone is to leave them be. As a general rule, people may be mean to you, but just keep reaching out as the Lord would have you do.