Love Your Enemies

But to those that are listening, I say: Love your enemies and do good to those that hate you. Bless those that curse you, pray for those that mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone that asks you. And if someone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others what you would have them do to you. If you love those that love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those that love them.And if you do good to those that do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without getting anything back.... Luke 6:35


What? God wants us to love our enemies, do good to those that hate us. Bless those that curse us. Pray for those that mistreat us and lend to those without expecting to be paid back?

Why?

Because, the scripture you just read did not end with that last sentence that says, "But love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without getting anything back....

No. The rest of that sentence gives the reason why we are to love our enemies in the ways stated in this scripture. And that is this: .......then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

Not easy is it? But if we truly want to be like Jesus, we need to do as he does in the face of his own enemies. We need to practice it in our own lives.

And that means me. Right now, today. Because yesterday, I had a situation come up with someone that made me get upset. I won't go into details. But, yes I was angry.

Reading that scripture today, was a good reminder for me. Because anyone can be angry. Sometimes for good reason. But who can forgive and be Christlike if not those that have come to the salvation knowlege of Jesus Christ. No one. Except those that have.

Not because we are perfect. But because we are ourselves forgiven.

Verse 36 of that part of the teaching ends with this: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Where is our mercy towards others best shown? When we love and pray for those that curse, mistreat, and take from us. That is when. Easy? Never. But possible? Always. Only because Christ has shown it to us.

August 14, 2019 Promise: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

Thanks for coming by today Friends! May God's blessing be upon you and your house this day!