Essential Jesusಮಾದರಿ

Love Your Enemies

So much that Jesus said shook up the societal thinking of the day. Taking it on, turning it upside down, inside out, and back on its head again, then firing it back like a thought-provoking dart to the heart that challenges your whole worldview. The counter-cultural ability to authentically love our enemies is life changing.

He starts with, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy”’ (v43 NIV). This is a relatable way of describing what was (and still is) the cultural norm. It does make a lot of sense. You can imagine the listener thinking, "Yep, fair enough. Got it Jesus. Dur!"

Then comes the flip side—the 180-degree U-turn that shows us how different a real Christian worldview can be. Love your enemies. WHAT! We have to love our enemies as well? I can love my family, my neighbors, my fellow believers. I can love lots of people, Jesus. But the person, once close, who has caused immense pain to myself and my loved ones or the stranger who just cut me off in traffic! Let me think about that for a moment.

But wait there’s more. "Pray for those who persecute you..." (v44b NIV) as well? Lord give me strength!

Thankfully, He does. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (NKJV). It’s not easy, but as we take our first baby steps towards fully forgiving, then loving, then praying for those who have wronged us, Jesus is there with us, helping us throughout the whole process.

Written by ROBBIE PARKIN