Love your Enemy
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Once again Christ is teaching the disciples and everyone with him on the character of being godly, He commands that we love our enemy, bless those that curse us, do good to those that hate us and even pray for them... What a great and difficult task one can ever do... But this is the command of Christ
Who is an enemy?
A foe; an adversary. Someone who hates another and wishes him injury, or attempts to do him injury to gratify his own malice or ill will.
Haven't know this, Jesus still commands we love them, even if they try to kill us, we should still love them, even if they try to deform our character with lies and stories that do not exist.. What a difficult but possible command
Christ commands us to love our enemies because
1. For God loved the whole world, you, and your enemies inclusive... "John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
God's love is not only limited to those in Him, neither is it limited to certain sets of people.. But His love extends to everyone irrespective of race, religion, and believe.
2. God is love and as much as we are inclined to Him., we must be able to exhibit that same character of love as we journey our life... We should love in speech, thought, actions and our relationship with everyone.
3. Christ died for all ... The death of Christ on the cross is for everyone, even your worst enemy.. Someone you think God should just kill and let you have peace... That same person is the one God is working out his/her salvation, because God do not want anyone to perish... If you hate them, how will they come to the knowledge of the truth?
How then are we going to live peaceably knowing fully well of what the enemy can do?
Hear what the word of God says.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
From the verse, it clearly shows that the requirement for living peacefully with our enemy is for our ways to please the Lord...
The question is does your way pleased the Lord?, in character, behaviour, at your place of work, in thoughts and in deeds. Are you not an enemy also unto God because you are not keeping His laws?
God keeps and protect His own people until their enemy comes to the knowledge of the truth. Remember Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar
Apostle Paul was once "Saul the terror" against the early Church.
He was a very wicked official that persecute many believers of Christ...
Even the disciples in thier thought would be praying earnestly for him to die and let the church have peace.... But yet he continue to wax stronger and stronger every day.
He was even present when Stephen was murdered, and from their he determined to go to Damascus to seize other believers and bring them to prison.
But on the way, just as the love of God extends to all.. Saul met the Lord and became Paul.
Believer's persecutor becomes an Apostle of Christ.
If the prayers of the disciples could have been answered then, how are we going to have the favourite books that makeup the new testament.
Your worst enemy today may be your saving grace tomorrow,
Your enemy needs to know Christ too just as you are once an enemy of God.
Some enemies are raised to punish the hypocrite believers,
Some enemies are raised to influence the wide spread of the Gospel
God loves all, Christ died for all.. Love your enemy... And as long as your ways pleased the Lord, your enemy will be at peace with you.
God bless you.
Prayer key :
1. Lord thank you for a new day given to me today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord help me to love my enemy, pray, and bless those that curse me in Jesus name.
3. Lord, help me to please you in all ways in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you for answered prayers in Jesus name.