“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In this way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven….”
Matthew 5:43-45 NLT
I always thought enemies were antagonistic, hostile people, or those you hold a grudge against. However, enemies can be people who simply oppose your opinions or actions. It’s those “against” enemies that seem to be reproducing faster than rabbits these days!
All one needs to do is read a few Facebook posts or listen to the News. Enemies shout at each other in the streets and blast each other on Twitter. Some may have never met in person; others may sit side by side every day. And yet, without knowing anything about each other’s lives, they are sworn enemies simply because they have different opinions.
When we choose to focus on differences, we lose sight of the truth: We are ALL human beings, loved by OUR Creator. That GOD came to live in our world. He experienced harassment, insult, slander, false accusations, and cruelty. But HE said, “Love your enemies!” and then He showed us how! The Pharisees were Jesus’ greatest critics—they opposed everything He said or did. Yet Jesus went TO them, ate in their homes, and listened to their hearts.
No other person in history experienced evil from enemies like Jesus did, and yet HE is the One Who said, “Love your enemies...In this way you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven….”
What better way to prove to the world that God IS with us...
LOVE your enemies!
