Love Your Neighbour (And Your Enemies)Sýnishorn

In C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series there is a scene in which the beavers are talking about the attributes of Aslan, the great Lion figure who represents Jesus. And as they are discussing, the question gets posed – is Aslan safe? And the beavers respond – "Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good."

In some respects, the overwhelming goodness of God is what makes him “unsafe”. God’s love is so expansive, so gracious, that he loves people we don’t like. He loves his enemies. Which at one time was all of us, according to Romans 5:10. But even once we have been made his friends, God does not stop reaching out to his enemies. 

This is the message of the story of Jonah. God loves Nineveh, but Jonah doesn’t. And by the end of the book, Jonah is angry with God because God’s reach is wider. Part of God’s transformative work in our lives is to enlarge our hearts beyond the border walls we build. If you want to stay close to the heart of God, you are going to end up challenged with who you are called to love and bless and serve.

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever been angry with God about the reach of his love?

2. Using Romans 5:6-11 as your guide, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of the love of God which has been “poured out into our hearts” (v.5). May that love transform your love.