“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44)
No doubt one of the most difficult admonition of Jesus Christ is found in Matthew 5:44-45: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Loving your enemies may be one of the most difficult things to do especially in a climate where people have become in some instances of belligerent towards one another in person, in the news media and on social media. So what does one do? How do we love those who insidiously and openly seek to defeat and defame you? Some people may sincerely feel this is impossible. It’s easy to love those who love you, but not so easy to love and pray for those you feel have wronged you in some way.
Daily we read of accusations of wrong doing, shootings at work places and schools, infighting among our nations leaders, partisan enmity, political polarization on a varous issues, policy, or different people groups, and so forth.
Our command as Christians is to passionately to live out this command in our lives on a daily basis.
So how do we love our enemies?
First Corinthians 13 gives us the answer:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Christians can begin to shift the culture of nations when we abide in these things: Faith, Hope and Love even when we don’t agree with each other. Love is the greatest! Love never fails! #love #faith #hope
May the grace, joy, and peace of God be yours through Jesus Christ our loving Lord. To Him be glory, now and forever.
Blessings,
Dr. Francine
Note: All Scriptures are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 