Saturday, January 18, 2014
Matthew 5:43-44 You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, 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.
THE SAVIOR OF THE NATIONS ... CAME AND WAS BORN TO SAVE EVEN MY ENEMIES
It is easy to dislike those who treat us shamefully. Our world encourages us to love our friends and hate our enemies. If someone hurts you, get them back -- that's the human way.
The Savior of the Nations says that we should dismiss that way of thinking and love our enemies. He urges us to ask for God's blessing on those who curse us and to do good to those who hate us. He asks that we pray on behalf of those who use and persecute us.
He didn't say it would be easy for us. In fact, without Him, without His ruling in our hearts, it is impossible. We are to love as we have been loved (cf. Ephesians 4:32).
Jesus didn't come only to save a few. He came to save us all. He came even to save your enemies. If Jesus died to win the soul of my enemy, shouldn't I also love him and pray that God's will be done? Yes indeed, may God the Holy Spirit help us to remember that the Savior came and was born to save even unsavory types like us and our enemies.
