Doing Things That MatterSample

"LOVE RECKLESSLY – PART THREE"

In our world hatred, revenge, grudges, and anger seem to be around every corner. We find those things in politics, racism, families, and even churches. Jesus said that the greatest command is to love God and love your neighbor—most of us can get with that, but he also calls us to love our enemies! What does that even mean? Are we talking about political enemies? People who’ve wronged us? People we disagree with? Do we really need to love them and if so…how?

In 1956 Martin Luther King Jr. was speaking at a rally when around 9pm a boy interrupted him and shouted that King’s house had been firebombed by the Klu Klux Klan. King ran out of the rally and found his house still on fire! The police and fire department were there, along with a large angry mob of citizens from Montgomery, Alabama there to support King. They surrounded the house with rifles, baseball bats, and other weapons ready to retaliate. The people were looking to get an eye for an eye! 

King stepped onto the porch of his home and said these words, “I want you to love your enemies. Be good to them, love them, and let them know that you love them. We must meet hate with love. What we are doing is right, what we are doing is just, and God is with us. Go home with love in our hearts, with faith, and with God in front, we cannot lose.” As he spoke these words the angry mob, put down their guns and baseball bats and spontaneously broke into singing Amazing Grace. They sang, they cried, and they peacefully went back to their homes. 

When we return hate with hate it never ends well, but when we turn the other cheek…even to our enemies…that’s when change is on the way! MLK brought change to the world by seeing things as Jesus saw them. The kind of love Jesus calls us to is not always easy, but it is always right! Those who choose to love God, our neighbors, and our enemies with a reckless love will be the ones who change the world! 

Who is someone that is difficult to love—perhaps an enemy or someone you have anger or hatred towards? Pray God would soften your heart and give you the capacity to love them.