Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

     Wow! I couldn't have said it better. Nobody could say it better than Jesus. Not only is Jesus counter-cultural but, often times, He is counter-Christianity. This is a hard pill to swallow. What I mean by counter-Christianity is that, all too often, we as Christians tend to take up arms (whether physical or otherwise) against those who may be considered our enemies. In Christ, however, we are called to love those who are against us and to treat them as we would like to be treated. What does that look like. Just look up at the above verses. The reason I believe Jesus gives us this admonition is because, not only does it teach us to be humble, but it also shows Christ-like love to those who seemingly deserve it the least. God shows us love like this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus didn't die for "righteous" people. He died for low down, dirty, vile sinners. THAT'S US!! And it's not just us who believe in Him. Jesus died for the whole world. When we view the whole world as people who Jesus died for, it makes it that much harder to hate your enemy because you realize that YOU were His enemy and He died for you. "For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"- Romans 5:10

    I say this all time to people. We as believers are in a constant WAR and it looks like this:

W ords- Colossians 4:6

A ctions- Romans 12:18

R eactions- Romans 12:19-21

In conclusion all I have to say is to echo what God says:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Romans 12:1,2