Why Should I Love My Enemy?

February 15, 2016/CathyChung/

Topics to Dig Into

Who is He?

What is God like? Who is this man Jesus? How can we understand the Holy Spirit?

The Visible God

God is present and active in our lives, often working through people and ‘coincidences’. Thank and praise Him!

Making it Practical

Following Jesus in today’s world can be challenging. But living according to Jesus’ teaching is incredibly worthwhile. Call it life-changing.

He Knows You

God’s love is unconditional. He knows our hearts and continually invites us into relationship.

Ah-Ha!

Learning about the culture and language of Bible times can reveal new meaning in familiar scriptures. Let’s call them ah-ha moments.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:35-36 (NLT)

Why should I love my enemy? I don’t want to! She’s nasty and vicious. He doesn’t deserve it!

Jesus topples our sense of fairness by reminding us that God’s love is for everyone. God’s sun shines on all people, both good and evil. Every human being is created in His image. We are all imperfectly the same and yet God is merciful.

We (must) love others because God loves us. It’s that simple.

What if…when someone pushes your buttons to incite an argument, you refuse to engage and instead, pour out kindness?

What if…when a shopper steals your parking spot, you say “you must be in a rush, please go ahead of me in line”?

Then, you will truly be children of God. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Eugene Peterson’s translation of Luke 6:32-36 says it well:

If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never – I promise – regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Help and give without expecting a return. This is your God-created identity.

What situations can you handle with more love?

#SeedsofScripture
#LoveYourEnemies

Scripture resources:

Matt 5:45 – He causes
His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and
the unrighteous.

Matt 5:9 – Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

1 John 4:19 – We
love each other because He loved us first.

2 Comments

CHERRILYNN BISBANO on February 16, 2016 at 10:45 AM

Cathy, Great post. My husband showed love to someone who was nasty to us. He shoveled his car out of the snow. The cold heart of this person melted. He said, "No one has ever done anything like this for me." We are all now cordial to one another.

Reply
- CathyChung on February 16, 2016 at 2:46 PM
  
  That is such a great example, Cherrilynn! I love his heart!
  
  Reply

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