Consider
Consider this. Jesus was wrongfully blamed, humiliated, beaten and tortured, abandoned and KILLED. He could have easily freed Himself from all that and killed all the puny people who went against Him. Instead, He endured them. He let them do as they pleased. And on top of that, He died for them and LOVED them! When hating them would be the normal reaction, he loved them instead! It's... unthinkable! But He actually did it and it's real!
I imagine that if i were in His position, i'd really hate every single one of those people. I'd probably hate my disciples for abandoning me too! I'd probably call down some lightning bolt and kill them all! =P Isn't it good that i'm not God? Ha...
As i thought about all this today, i'm awed at the great example Jesus set. I look at myself and i am ashamed. I didn't go through torture, i didn't bleed and die and i still have so many good things going for me, yet it's so difficult for me to obey, to forgive and to love.
It has been a struggle for me. It has been painful. But i know that whatever pain i went through is nothing compared to what my Heavenly Father went through for my sake. Therefore, i sure can obey, forgive and love. I shall not mull on this any longer and i shall do my best to love as God wants me to. My riches will be stored in heaven and not on earth. =)