In other words, if those around us consistently experience us as unapproachable, cold, unsafe, defensive, rigid, or judgmental, Scripture declares us spiritually immature. The most radical expression of Jesus’ teaching about love was also one of his most fundamental principles: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . . . If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?” (Matthew 5:44, 46). For Jesus, enemies were not interruptions to the spiritual life, but often the very means by which we might experience deeper communion with God. That is one of the reasons he
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