“43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,fn what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Aaaaah the Sermon on the Mount, a seemingly impossible declaration of the goals of a true believer. I am intrigued by the fact that after Jesus tells us who gets blessed in heaven he then gives us a list that I know I have failed to fulfill on almost all accounts, but don’t worry I have yet to cut off my right hand. But, if we are giving out Bible names, just call me Stumpy. Ok no more bad jokes, but I am seriously missing toes, so …..?
This all brings us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Then He goes on to say that loving those that love you is without reward. The reward comes when we love those that do not love us. This can be in our homes, families, friendships, and even those we do not want to ever be around. Yes, I realize that that may be one of the group I mentioned above and that’s OK. If they are to know God by “our love one for another” then we must tap into a source that allows us to keep loving people regardless of circumstances or emotions. Becoming an adopted child of God means that we no longer have the right to act as judge and jury. It’s now His job to rule and reign in our lives.
I am CONVINCED that one of the main reasons that people do not come into God’s family (the Kingdom) as they did in the New Testament, is this. We do not love our enemies. We have become good at doing the thing He commanded us not to do, passing judgment.
As a child I really struggled with identity because of birth defects. How would I feel if I approached a group of kids and heard them talking about the scars on my face? Instant rejection. I turned away from many tries of engaging in conversation before I even introduced myself. We all have scars, some are visable, some are hidden. Who am I to say that I am better than you because of what you have done out of hurt or pain? Who am I to say you are wrong, because your childhood and life experiences are very different than mine? I do not have that right or responsibility as a child of God. I can only “be perfect as [my] heavenly Father is perfect, if I tap into HIS PERFECT LOVE. We all fall short of the glory of God, Romans says. However the goal is to stay in the glory, which is His presence and in His presence is many wonderful things. Such as fullness of Joy, Compassion (Tangible Love of God), peace, patience, etc.
In summary a relationship with an unconditionally loving Father allows us to allow Him to judge and us to love the unlovable in our lives. Not as an arduous task, but as someone so full of the goodness of God, that it becomes easy and light.
You want to see God doing the supernatural and un-heard of things that you read about? The foundation for it all is His Love.
Practical Application:
- Who are my 3 closest enemies that I can easily contact?
- neighbor, family member, business associate
- What can I do to practically love one of them this week?
- Gift, mow their grass, write a note of apology, ?
Do it!
- Talk to God about it, and write down your thoughts
- How did you feel before you did it?
- How do you feel after you did it?
What would happen if 10 people in every church in your town did this to one of their enemies every week?