How Do I Love My Enemies?ਨਮੂਨਾ

Removing Our Victimhood

During Rome’s reign over Israel in the first century A.D., a Roman soldier could force any Jewish person at any time to carry their armor for one mile. It was a clear sign that the Romans had power over the Jews.

The Jewish man who had been forced to set his plans aside to carry his enemy’s armor would likely have been humiliated and angry. He would have likely wanted revenge.

When Jesus came as the King of the Jews, there was great hope that He would overthrow the Romans—so when He tells the Jews to go another mile, it probably felt like capitulation.

But Jesus wasn’t capitulating. He was not weak. He was not a pushover.

Instead, He was showing that it took great strength for a man to go the extra mile, to serve beyond what was demanded.

It gave the decision-making power back to the person who felt it had been stripped away.

There is something wonderful that happens when men make the decision to serve someone. We invest our time, strength, and focus in that person. We know that investments are good things; you can grow wealthy from great investments. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). When you serve someone, your investment into them means that your heart will begin to also be for them.

I have people right now who have said hurtful things about me and to me. It would be easy to want nothing to do with them. However, I am praying that God will help me serve them. Even if they never own their stuff and apologize, my serving them takes away my victimhood.

I am doing what I want to do; I am not being forced to do something I don’t want to do.

And the thing that I am choosing to do is honor Christ who went the extra mile (and many more) for me.

Prayer: Dear Lord, serving was a big deal to You. You even said that You didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45). This was important to You. I may not always understand the significance of serving, but help me to obey anyway—especially with my enemies. Help me to be willing to serve even if they never notice. Help me to serve in faith that You knew what You were doing and that if I obey You, it will work out for the good in my life. Amen.

Reflection: In what ways might you be able to serve someone today who has hurt you?