Love thy Enemies

Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

- – (Matthew 5:43-48, NIV)

When you ask most Christians on what was the core of Jesus’ values, you would surely get an answer that it was ‘Love your God and your Neighbor.’ As Jesus had said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40, NIV). But why is it that the most difficult of all commandments is one of the most important, that is to love your enemies?

It is never easy to love someone who has done something wrong to you. It is difficult to pray for someone who is wicked to you. And it is painful to show someone that you care when that person is actually insulting you. But because God is great, everything in His eyes is equal. He allows the sun to rise on the good and the bad. He makes the rain to fall on the kind and the wicked. He causes the air to collide through the just and the unjust. God is so great that he loves those who stand by his teachings and loves more those who are against it.

By doing so, God achieves perfection. He is perfect in all His ways. The Bible says, “…The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them…” (Hosea 14:9). Even in Psalms it says, “Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right” (Psalms 119:137).

God, being perfect, therefore, loves all people unconditionally. A perfect person, hence, loves his enemies as much as he loves his friends and family. A perfect person, therefore, prays for the goodness and righteousness of his enemies and persecutors. A perfect person, thus, repays no one with evil for evil or insult with insult. He is not overcome by evil but overcomes evil we good. So for someone who is acting on God’s will but hates his brothers, he is still living in darkness.

Consequently, if someone has done something evil to you, you should respond in a Christ-like manner. Don’t take things personally and see that person as someone who needs the guidance of God. Difficult it may seem but the result would be worth-it. By doing so, you are not only manifesting that you are a true-blooded Christian but also proving that you are worthy of the Kingdom of God.

Friend, how’s your relationship with your family and loved ones? How about your relationship with your friends, officemates, business partners, and neighbors? These are the people who care for you, and these are the same people who will disappoint you sooner or later. How can you keep those relationships intact and healthy?

Friend, accept the reality that people changes. People who are sitting and laughing with us today will disappoint us sooner or later. Be ready to forgive them as our heavenly Father did for all our past, present, and future sins that moment He gave His only son Jesus to die in our place. Victory has won more than 2,000 years ago in Calvary. Jesus Christ has won the victory over death, over sin, over the powers of darkness. He now wants you to experience the victory over sin and shame, and to live victoriously and harmoniously with people who will disappoint you sooner or later.

Love God first and He will show you how to love even the unlovable. Do you really love God? If you love God, you should also love Jesus because they are one. Do you know Jesus? This is the most important thing in your life, my friend. If you have come to believe that Jesus is God, and that He is the Savior, invite Him into your life right now. Trust that He died to take away your sins. He lay down His life for a friend, and that’s you and me. We are all sinners and undeserving of His sacrifice. But God’s love is unconditional and He never changes. Give glory to Him by loving those who are unlovable.