Bible Question:

Is there a scripture that says something like, “If you have been hurt, God commands you to always leave your heart vulnerable. Do not build walls. I thought I read this somewhere and I can not find it now. Thanks so much, God Bless.

Bible Answer:

There is no verse in the Bible with that exact wording, but the spiritual principle is there. What follows are some passages with that thought.

Love Your Enemy

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His listeners to love their enemies as well as those who persecuted them.

You have heard that it was said, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? (NASB) Matt. 5:43-46

Now that is remaining vulnerable. Jesus wants us to be willing to suffer rebuke, insults, and even physical violence and still love others. There is an old adage that says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That is a big lie. Words hurt more than sticks and stones because the pain from wicked words can last a long time. Yet, Jesus wants us to forgive and show these people love. But Jesus is not asking us to be stupid and remain with people who want to physically hurt us. A good explanation as to what Jesus was saying can be found in a study titled, “Be Spiritually Mature . . .”

Overcome Evil

Another great passage calls us to overcome evil with good.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NASB) Rom. 12:21

That requires a tender or a vulnerable heart. It is the result of loving Jesus. When we love Jesus, our love will flow out to others (1 John 4:20). Jesus is not asking us to willingly submit ourselves to physical or verbal violence. The following verse makes that point.

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it. (NASB) Prov. 22:3

Forgiveness Avoids Bitterness

Forgiveness is the key to contnuing to be sensitive to the needs of others and being vulenerable. On one occasion Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone. He suggested seven times. It appears that Peter thought he was being generous but Jesus suprised him and said seventy times seven. That is, he was to keep forgving and forgiving.

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matt. 18:21-22 (NASB)

In Ephesians, God enccourages us to not let the emotion of anger remain an issue – overnight. I found that when I am struggling with someone, I am angry with that person. What is the solution? Confess your anger as sin and choose to forgive them. You may have to do that several times before it goes away.

BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Eph 4:26–27 (NASB)

Conclusion:

When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit gives that person the love of God. One is able to love others in a new and different way.

. . . because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NASB) Rom. 5:5

God wants us to love those who are Christians as well as those who are not (Gal. 6:10). May the Lord bless you.