HOW TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES?
love your enemies
Jesus tells us the following: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44); but how to love your enemies?
We are told love your enemies, but what is an enemy?
An enemy is someone who wants to hurt you and hurts you. Whether the pain is emotional, physical, or both, it’s hard to imagine loving them back.
Why should we love our enemies?
Why love our enemies is simple to answer. First of all, Jesus asks us to do it.
Jesus taught extensively on the subject beginning with Luke 6:27-28 and was very clear: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who slander you.”
Love your enemies like Jesus did
He is telling us to love our enemies and treat them with kindness, blessings, and prayer. Because? Because we show who Jesus is by loving our enemies.
We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ by showing his love. The love of Jesus does not depend on feelings, but on loving as Jesus did despite our feelings and regardless of people’s actions.
IT IS THE HOW THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT HOW TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES?
Love your enemies, but how to do it?
It is difficult to love as Jesus loved; However, to get a little closer to this love we need the following:
• The grace of God (his undeserved favor toward us)
Does loving our enemies go against our human nature?
Sometimes our human nature, instead of loving our enemies, wants to hold a grudge or take revenge. But the Bible makes it clear: “Do not avenge yourselves, my beloved, but give room to the wrath of God; for it is written: Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
Love your enemies, no matter how hard it is
Revenge is to pay evil with evil. It is easy to counterattack or attack our enemies. And when we feel attacked or hurt, it’s hard to love our enemies. But God says to let him deal with our enemies. Only He can judge and does not need our opinion on how he should act. We must leave our enemy in his hands.
“Not returning evil for evil, nor cursing for cursing, but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you were called to inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).
As Christians, we have a new purpose and a new way of life. Instead of “getting even” like our old selves want, we respond with a blessing, a prayer, or a positive response.
Jesus models how to love our enemies
Jesus faced incredible opposition in his life. His enemies wanted to discredit him, harass him, and eventually kill him. But he did not allow himself to let his enemies divert him from his purpose. He responded to his enemies with truth, healing, kindness, and love. He wanted to change hearts.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T LOVE OUR ENEMIES?
Love your enemies, what if you don’t?
Let’s talk for a moment about what happens when we don’t love our enemies. Speaking from personal experience, I can say that it causes great anxiety, sleepless nights, a bitter and angry spirit, and affects those we love and care for.
I think Paul says it best: “Take heed lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; some root of bitterness springing up, troubles you, and by it many are contaminated” (Hebrews 12:15).
What happens when we love our enemies?
The overwhelming love and care of Jesus will change hate like a healing balm. The turbulence within us fades away. God allows us to trust him completely and helps us deal with those who hurt us or want to hurt us.
We can pray for our enemies to repent of their sins and come to the knowledge of the truth to be saved. We cannot be slaves to the behavior or acts of another person filling us with bitterness and hatred.
Loving our enemies does not mean letting others continue to hurt us. God wants us to set strong, protective boundaries. He wants us to find people to help us heal the pain. Jesus wants us to feel safe and protected.
Jesus Christ has a much better plan for our lives than living in hate and bitterness. He created us to do good works, not to sink into sin. We must cut off those feelings of hate and bitterness before they can flourish, we must prevent them from growing.
WAYS TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES
How to love our enemies?
Bitterness against our enemies does not always manifest itself in hatred, but other actions are just as destructive. We may complain or criticize, or use jokes or sarcasm when talking about them. How to love our enemies? Since none of these things are loving, we have to change the way we see our enemies.
Change your internal dialogue
Instead of reflecting on the damage they caused, pray for them. Bless them by offering a simple prayer. Whenever your enemy comes to mind, replace the negative talk in your head with prayer.
Pray that Jesus would work in a powerful way to soften your heart and open your eyes. Pray that they will feel a deep need for Jesus instead of opposing his ways. But just pray.
It’s hard to have thoughts of revenge while offering a prayer. It puts our focus on God and his good plan for our healing and spiritual growth.
Don’t let your emotions rule you
“And the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God, and to the patience of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5) Do not let your emotions dominate what you know to be true about God.
Pray for strength and patience
“My flesh and my heart fail; but the rock of my heart and my portion is God forever” (Psalm 73:26)
WE SHOULD LOVE OUR ENEMIES
love your enemies, conclusion
Loving our enemies is a lifelong challenge. We will continue to be hurt, disrespected, betrayed and mistreated in this life. But remember who is the real enemy in each situation. He wants us to be at war with each other and with ourselves. The last thing he wants us to do is heal, or bless and love our enemies!
Trusting in Jesus and seeking wisdom in His word helps us develop a love like his. That love will help us to forgive, heal internally and love our enemies.