LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
1 Peter 3:8-9
“ not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead.”
Matthew 5:44 & 46
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray FOR those who despitefully use you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven;”
“For if you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?”
WHY IS LOVING YOUR ENEMIES SO HARD?
Well the word 'enemies' says it all.
If someone is your enemy, then they probably hurt you in some way or another.. So the commandment 'Love your enemies' is a lot easier said than done. It's very hard because it's very personal.
When we get angry and offended against someone, our human nature is to immediately make a note of it, harbor ill feelings and getting mad.
- But Jesus said if we do not challenge the option of hate with love, it makes us no different than the world. We are led by our emotions or 'flesh' instead of our Spirit. The wrong thing is governing our thoughts and our actions.
TODAY:
Ask God to give you the grace to love even when you don't feel like it.
It's not by your own will or strength that you'll be able to be consistent at it, but only through the help of the Holy Spirit reminding you of God's principles and the new way we've been called to live!
