LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
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“But I say to you who hear; love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you.”—Luke 6:27
People argue that the command given
by Jesus to “love your enemies” is an
extremely difficult command to follow.
They say that it is not practical to follow, and it just isn’t possible
to put into practice. Theologians have debated that Jesus did not mean for
ordinary people to practice this concept of loving
your enemies; rather, that it is just and ideal. However, in today’s society this command is
an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. The world is at unrest and is increasingly
filled with anger, hatred and malice.
So, the question is asked, “How do you love your enemies and defeat the
system of hatred?”
You are able to love because
God’s redemptive love is deep within your very being. Through hearing, understanding and embracing
the fact that every individual is created in God’s image and that Jesus paid
the same price for them as He did for you.
This love is cultivated by meditating on scriptures that teach of love;
such as, I Corinthians 13, and by loving people because God loves them. You do not repay evil for evil, but you “love your enemies,” and you demonstrate
this love every opportunity that you can.
And finally, you “love your
enemies,” because love has within itself redemptive power. Hating your enemy has no way to redeem or to
transform them; in fact, hating tears down and it is destructive. But, if you love your enemies you will
discover that love is creative and it builds up. So, love your enemies.
Prayer—Lord, forgive me for hating my enemies, and help me to minister Your
love to my hurting world by doing acts of kindness, in Jesus Name. Amen.
