Enemies

Enemies

What does it mean to love my enemies?

God’s Response

You have heard that the law of Moses says, “Love your neighbor” and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:43-44

All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. 1 Peter 3:8-9

Showing love to one’s enemies is always unreasonable—until you realize that you were an enemy of God before he forgave you. When you love an enemy, you see him or her as Christ does, as a person in need of grace. Getting to that point takes prayer. You can’t pray for someone without feeling compassion for them. This is how you can refrain from retaliating when they hurt you, and this is how God can turn an enemy into a friend.

God’s Challenge

If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. . . . Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:20-21