Love Your Enemies
From Pastor Cristy Olof
Matthew 5:43-48 NLT
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Jesus had plenty of haters in His time. Even as a helpless baby, He had people trying to kill Him. Once He was an adult, the Pharisees and many leading priests didn't like Jesus. Crowds mocked Him and yelled, "Crucify Him!" Those within His own hometown didn't accept Him. Bringing the circle even closer - Judas, His own chosen disciple, betrayed Him.
I recently heard that Jesus treated Judas in such a way that at the Last Supper, all of the disciples didn't know which one would betray Jesus when He said, "One of you will betray me." What love He must have shown Judas!
We have a beautiful example in Christ to love our enemies! Matthew 5 is the sermon on the mount. These are the words directly from Jesus instructing us to go against the culture and our personal desire to want to hate our enemies.
For such a time as this, take Matthew 5 seriously as you interact with others who don't believe like you, live like you, vote like you, look like you, talk like you, or worship like you! We have the awesome responsibility to share the love of Christ and be like our Father in Heaven...perfect!
Love you church!
Cristy
