Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27-30 “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.”

In yesterday’s post about forgiving others, we were encouraged by Jesus to forgive others. If we refuse to forgive others, then how can we ask of the Lord to forgive us?

In today’s post, we are instructed by our Lord Jesus to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless people when they curse us, and pray for our abusers. Showing love to an enemy would not only infuriate them for a time, but would also disarm them of the accusations they are building against us for the only thing they could share is that we have been kind to them.

For those who curse us, we should not strike back with a verbal curse on them, but a kind word, a word of peace and love. Yesterday, I was being cursed by someone and my first inclination was not to bless them, but was to let them cool down. I must strive to remember to say a kind thought and word to myself for them.

For those who have harmed us, we are not instructed to restore relationships with them. To restore relationships with our abusers could be potentially dangerous. Christ instead asks us to pray for them. Prayer is a great way to break down the unforgiveness in our own hearts when we are asking for the Lord to forgive those who have wronged us. If we can genuinely ask the Lord to show mercy and forgiveness to our enemies, then this attitude will pervade into our hearts and allow us to treat everyone with love and mercy too.