“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” Luke 6:27-28
This is one of, if not, the most difficulty task in the Bible — to love, bless, and even pray for those who hate you. We are commanded to do something that is humanly impossible, yet we have to. As Christians, this is one of those things that distinguish us from the unbelievers.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:32-36
Just as we can love those who love us, greet those who greet us, feed those who feed us, we are expected to replicate the same attitude for our enemies. When Jesus was been nailed to the crops, He asked the Father to forgive those who nailed Him. Stephen also portrayed the same attitude. If they could, we too can.
In Proverbs 25: 21-22, we were told to feed our enemies, and that by so doing, we are heaping burning coals on their head. “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”
Many people have misconstrued the above verse. They have interpreted it as doing good to their enemies in order to punish them or make them feel guilty. However, what the Lord is telling us there is to love them unconditionally, greet them, pray for them and bless them. When we do this, we are giving them the chance to have a change of heart. Even when they prove stubborn and all seem like they don’t change their ways, through our loving attitude, we make them realise that love is a beautiful thing.
Is there someone you’ve been considering your enemy? Today is the day to start praying for such person. Your act of love can melt a stony heart.
Prayer
1. Ask the Lord to have mercy on you for not showing love in the right way.
2. Pray for the grace to start loving those who term themselves your enemies.
3. Pray that the Lord will change the hearts of your enemies.
This is our message for today, and we hope you were blessed. We’d also love to hear from you; please comment below.
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Have a blessed day!
