20071202
Jesus Christ said in Luke 6:27: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”. For those who seek to be Christ like, loving your enemies is therefore not an option. However, the Lord knew our natural human responses and actions toward our enemies as shown in verses 32 to 34. It is only natural to love those who love us, do good to those who are good to us or lend money to those who intends to repay us. If we do these things, then what good are we?
Yes, God’s people have their enemies, even Jesus did! There are many passages in the Bible that assure us of God’s rescue and comfort in time of adversities. There are also practical steps we can take to conquer our enemies and turn them into friends. We should ask God to bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. To offer the other cheek when struck on one and not demand back what rightfully belongs to us. “How can it be? Where is the justice?” It’s impossible! These are our normal responses.
Elizabeth Elliot, by the power of God’s love, was able to return to the same group of people who had killed her husband Jim Elliot in Ecuador’s jungle and continued to minister to “her enemies”. The work brought her much joy, as promised by God, when she reaped the harvest from the seed that Jim sowed.
It was God’s love that pursued the Jews, sent the prophets, walked the hard roads of Judea and Galilee and spoke to the hard hearts of religious leaders. This love is definitely not normal love. It is not normal to love a murderer and adulterer but God did when he loved King David. It is not normal to love a man who had deviated from God but God loved King Solomon. It is not normal to love people who love stone idols more than they love Him but God did when he refused to give up on Israel. As in 1 Cor. 13, God’s love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Jesus commanded us to “Love each other” (Jn. 15:17) – clear and without exceptions – no “buts or ifs”. Love is the foundation to all Christ like qualities.
