89. Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36, Romans 12:17-23, 1 Peter 5:6, Proverbs 21:2,

Proverbs 25:21-22

Key Verse: Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6

Just as yesterday's instructions from Jesus called for grace, today, Jesus calls for humility toward others, even those we may consider to be our enemies. Pride calls us to hate our enemies. Humility calls us to pray for them. Pride calls us to exact revenge upon our enemies. Humility calls us to still seek their welfare. Again, Christ is calling us to rise above our human nature and do what would be impossible with man and only possible with Him.

He is calling us to become like Him. Did you realize that at one time, you yourself were an enemy of God? In Romans 5:8, the Apostle Paul tells us that, "God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, (enemies of a Holy God) Christ died for us." We did not ask Him to do it. We had not yet repented and told Him that we were sorry for the hurt we had caused. We did not even know that we had need of forgiveness. God, however, did know, and in love, died for us, His enemies, and paid the price for the wrongs that we had done to Him, so that He could enjoy the possibility of a restored relationship with us.

What could our petty grievances be against a fellow sinner, compared to the grievances that God could have against us? I know that I've said it before, but the fact is worth repeating that too often we forget just how Holy God is and just how vile sin makes us. In God's eyes, sin makes us all equal. It is only our trust in Christ that makes the difference between us and those who do not yet believe.

Another thing to consider, as we look at others is, "Who is my real enemy?" Another part of humility is realizing that we may not have all the facts. That is why the Lord speaks out so strongly against not seeking revenge. God knows the truth, we don't. God sees the heart, we can't. Let God be your avenger if that is necessary, but keep an open mind to new information if that is what's needed. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6) Wait for the Lord, wait patiently for the Lord, and He will make it right in His time.

Remember that our true enemy is the same as God's enemy, satan. He is behind you and me, enticing us to hurt one another. He's like the bully on the playground, trying to stir up trouble wherever he can. When we give in to our human impulses, satan loves it, but our Lord is grieved.

Remember that in the beatitudes, (Matt. 5:9) Jesus said that peace-makers would be considered "children of God." Jesus repeats that here in (Matt. 5:44) "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven." God's Son set the example by being the bridge between man and God. When you love those who are hard to get along with, as Jesus loved those who were persecuting Him, you too become a child of God as Jesus Himself is.

Hymn: "God So Loved the World"

God so Loved the World Sorry, no words on screen but this is really beautiful!