Luke 6:27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 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 be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
One of the hardest things to do in life is love those who seem to be unlovable. Every person has enemies. You know the people in your life who seem to have it out for you and seem to want the worst for you. It appears they have no purpose but to cause you pain, heartache and opposition to anything good. It is important to remember that many times they are in our lives for a reason; to remember that God is love and that love that we have received we are to give to and share with others no matter who they are and what they have done. Believe it or not but your enemies are there to test your faith and love walk with God. It is easy to love those who love us but it takes real Christian character and devotion to God to love those who do not love us and actually mistreat us. It does not mean that you are weak or timid, but actually stronger in places that really matter; your heart, soul, and spirit. Love does not mean being a pushover but doing what Jesus did which is putting your enemy in a place where they can see the love that God has for them by you making yourself an instrument in God’s plan. After all, God loved us all enough, as sinners (enemies of God) that he created a way for us all to see His love in sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. In this passage of scripture Jesus tells how to handle our enemies and with faith this works every time in God’s time.
1. Love Your Enemies - Love does conquer all (see last week’s devotional). There is no greater weapon in the Christians arsenal than love. Real love is truthful, honest, caring, forgiving, longsuffering and kind. If there is a person or persons that are acting like your enemy then show the love that you have received from God to them. When God saw us at our worst He still loved us. Do for them what you would want someone to do for you if you were behaving that same way. Your enemies NEED to see the Love of God that is in you, that is why they have crossed your path.
2. Do Good To Those Who Hate You - This is a tough one but a necessary one for every Christian. The easiest thing to do is retaliate or do evil for evil but that does more harm to you than your enemy. It brings you down to their level and causes you to do what does not please or represent God. Actions speak very loud here because we must always do good no matter what the circumstances. Remember that you will receive your reward from God for your actions and they will too. Don’t take the bait of your enemy it will only get you off the righteous path.
3. Bless and Pray for Those who Curse You and Mistreat You - This should be an easier on than the others but is often left undone. This is key in the process of your love and faith being tested. We should truly give our enemies what they deserve: our blessing and our prayers. Ask God to bless your enemies and pray that God will reveal more of Himself to them it will do wonders for you and them. I know this seems so backwards from what your flesh wants to do, but it is crucial to the well-being of you both. If you will sincerely bless and pray for them then God will do things in your life that you can’t imagine. To do this takes sacrifice not selfishness and that will always find a special place in the eyes of God; for He sacrificed His Son for all of us while we were still sinners.
Challenge:
Identify your enemies and then show love to them, do good by them, bless them and pray for them it is what Jesus said we should do.
One of the hardest things to do in life is love those who seem to be unlovable. Every person has enemies. You know the people in your life who seem to have it out for you and seem to want the worst for you. It appears they have no purpose but to cause you pain, heartache and opposition to anything good. It is important to remember that many times they are in our lives for a reason; to remember that God is love and that love that we have received we are to give to and share with others no matter who they are and what they have done. Believe it or not but your enemies are there to test your faith and love walk with God. It is easy to love those who love us but it takes real Christian character and devotion to God to love those who do not love us and actually mistreat us. It does not mean that you are weak or timid, but actually stronger in places that really matter; your heart, soul, and spirit. Love does not mean being a pushover but doing what Jesus did which is putting your enemy in a place where they can see the love that God has for them by you making yourself an instrument in God’s plan. After all, God loved us all enough, as sinners (enemies of God) that he created a way for us all to see His love in sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins. In this passage of scripture Jesus tells how to handle our enemies and with faith this works every time in God’s time.