Love Your Enemies
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:14
The Bible commands us not only to resist hating and retaliating against those who might harm us, but it tells us to go beyond that and actually bless them. That’s what Jesus instructed to those who heard His Sermon on the Mount: “ ‘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 spitefully use you’” (Luke 6:27-28).
To truly love your enemies, you must treat them as if they were your friends.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 221). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: This goes totally against human nature, but it is entirely within God's nature. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). Just as He loved us even while we were sinners and His enemies, we are to love our enemies.
Applications: Look for opportunities to love and serve your enemies. Not only that, seek to be reconciled with them, so that you might win them over with your love. Use the opportunity to present the gospel to unbelievers.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for meekness when dealing with opposition. Pray that I would remain calm and not entertain the sin of anger. Pray for reconciliation when possible and always a loving, sharing, serving attituted towards all people.
Listen to this entry
Romans 12:14
The Bible commands us not only to resist hating and retaliating against those who might harm us, but it tells us to go beyond that and actually bless them. That’s what Jesus instructed to those who heard His Sermon on the Mount: “ ‘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 spitefully use you’” (Luke 6:27-28).
To truly love your enemies, you must treat them as if they were your friends.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 221). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: This goes totally against human nature, but it is entirely within God's nature. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). Just as He loved us even while we were sinners and His enemies, we are to love our enemies.
Applications: Look for opportunities to love and serve your enemies. Not only that, seek to be reconciled with them, so that you might win them over with your love. Use the opportunity to present the gospel to unbelievers.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for meekness when dealing with opposition. Pray that I would remain calm and not entertain the sin of anger. Pray for reconciliation when possible and always a loving, sharing, serving attituted towards all people.
Listen to this entry
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