What do you do when your feelings are saying one thing but the Bible says the opposite? Showing love to someone who dogs you out is a perfect example. Of course, you know you should “do the right thing,” but isn’t it dishonest and hypocritical if you know your heart isn’t really in it?
No! (Sorry- that was kind of a trick question, wasn’t it?) It’s not dishonest or hypocritical because ultimately, it’s not about how we feel. It’s about being true to the Lord and what He has called us to, which is love.
But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Luke 6:27-28 NLT)
That is a tall order, and it definitely doesn’t always feel good to show love to someone who is against you. So if we have the mindset of needing to be “true to our feelings,” rather than committed to loving in spite of our emotions, we’ll never be able to obey this command. Instead:
Decide to love even if your feelings aren’t there yet. Do what you know is true. (excerpt from Receiving Revelation from the Foundation Stone pt.2, by Dr. Chester C. Pipkin)
Very often, we need to tell our emotions to take a backseat to what the Bible is telling us to do, and loving even when we don’t feel like it is a perfect place to start.