LOVE FOR ENEMIES
“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 children 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 own people, 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
Since the times of Apostles
up to this day millions of Christians have been facing persecution throughout
the world. Many have experienced it starting from the family level to the
nation level. There are some countries that being a Christian is forbidden; and
if they found out you are converted to become a Christian then you may even end up facing a death penalty.
Jesus knew that it won't be
easy to walk in His footsteps; He foretold the way Christians will be treated
with the people who don't know God and said some of us will be put to death for
the sake of the Gospel. They hated Jesus because He stood for the truth and
they will also hate you and I for standing for the His truth as our Lord
did.
Sometimes because of our
human nature you may be tempted to hate those who hate and kill our brothers
throughout the world. Jesus knew this that's why He instructed us to love our
enemies and pray for those who treat us harshly; that we may be children of our
Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
This morning, I want to
encourage going beyond your comfort zone by loving your enemies and praying for
those who treat you badly. They have been treating you that way because you
carry the name of Jesus in you; and they don't know the Father who sent His Son
to save the world. Keep the good attitude and continue living the life worth of
your calling in Christ Jesus our Lord. One day you will receive your reward in
heaven if you won't get discouraged and give up.
Then Jesus challenges us to
stop a behavior of loving those who love us only, because we won't get any
reward. We need to do more than the way people of this world do; they love
those who love them and hate those who hate them. Then we need to learn to love
even those who hate us, pray for those who treat us harshly and be patient with
those who don't understand our faith in Christ Jesus and we will be called the
children of Most High God.
****Morning Prayer****
Pray this prayer with me by
faith and God is going to answer your prayer....
Dear Father, I'm asking that You help me to love my
enemies; and to pray to those who treat me badly. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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