I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. Matthew 5:44 (MSG)
No One Gets Left Out – Sermon on the Mount Series – Part 5
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“You heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: love your enemies! Pray for people who persecute you! That way, you’ll be children of your Father in heaven!
After all, he makes his sun rise on bad and good alike, and sends rain both on the upright and on the unjust. Look at it like this: If you love those who love you, do you expect a special reward?
Even tax-collectors do that, don’t they? And if you only greet your own family what’s so special about that? Even Gentiles do that, don’t they? Well then: you must be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 (N.T. Wright’s “The Kingdom New Testament Translation”)
PRACTICE: LOVE OUR ENEMIES.
Jesus is the very image, the radiance of his glory, and the exact representation of God whose liberating love endures forever. A love that is perfect; it leaves no one out!
Think of your own life; while we were enemies of God, he has lavished his love on us in Jesus. God loves you! It’s true! And awkwardly, it’s equally true that God loves your enemies, with the same intensity.
God’s saving, redeeming, transforming love is active in the lives of our enemies. And God invites us to live that love and let it been seen in our actions towards our enemies. Not as an optional extra, but a central response to God’s grace is the command to participate in God’s love for our enemies.
Do you have a practice of praying for those who curse you? How can you imaginatively bless your enemies? How could you do good to them and witness to God’s perfect love that leaves no one out?
PRAYER: Abba, Praise you for your redeeming love that shines on all. Send your Spirit that in your power we might love, bless and pray for all, especially our enemies. You know how hard we find this, reveal to us again the power of the Cross. Amen.
Contributed and Written by: Jarrod McKenna
Facebook.com/jarrodandmates
Twitter: @jarrodmckenna
Instagram: @jarrodmckenna
You can watch the “Love Makes a Way Documentary,” by copying this link into your web browser: pktfuel.com/LMAW
Go to Part 6 – On the Down Low »
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