eFollowingJesusJan20 - Love your enemies (read
Matthew 5:38-48)
We live in a society that insists on "rights," on people getting what they deserve, where revenge only seems fair. So how vast is the canyon separating us from Jesus, who not only said "Love your enemies," but actually loved them?
Who is my enemy? Someone who hurt me? Someone who's different, who threatens me? Someone who just thinks wrong? Followers of Jesus do not even the score, they shrink back from retaliation in any form, even a silky, palatable type. Followers of Jesus know that "love bears all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7), and we expect that we will suffer disadvantage because of our Christlike posture in the face of hatred.
Isn't it crazy even to bother with enemies? Isn't it unthinkable not to resist? But our standard is Jesus, whose mission was to come to us who have become enemies of God and each other and to reconcile, who made forgiveness reality, who was rejected by those he loved, who was innocent but was executed on bogus charges.
There is only one way to get rid of an enemy: to love, to befriend that enemy who then is no longer an enemy.
Lord, help me identify my enemies, and then to love them.
James
james@mpumc.org
Here is the full text of Matthew 5:38-48 - 38: "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39: But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40: and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 41: and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42: Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. 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 have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47: And if you salute only your brethren, 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.
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