April 26th, 2024
by Robert Presson
by Robert Presson
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you... For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” — Matthew 5:44, 46, NKJV
In Matthew 5:44-46, Jesus challenges us to love our enemies and those who oppose us. This is a difficult teaching to embrace, especially in today's world where it seems like we're constantly bombarded by messages that promote divisiveness. But as Christians, we are called to a higher standard of love. We are called to love not only those who differ from us, but to love those who are unloveable. It's easy to love those who love us back.
But Jesus reminds us that even the tax collectors and sinners do that. The love that Jesus calls us to is one that goes beyond what is expected or deserved. It's a love that seeks the good of another, even when they have done us wrong. Loving our enemies doesn't mean that we excuse, agree with, or ignore their actions. Rather, it means that we choose to respond with love instead of hate. We can pray for those who mistreat us, bless them, and even do good to them. This type of love is not natural. It is supernatural, and it can only come from God.
As we strive to love our enemies, we must also recognize that we ourselves were once enemies of God. But God loved us first, even while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is the ultimate demonstration of love. Christ died for us, even though we were His enemies. If we are to love our enemies, we must first receive the love of God. We cannot give what we do not have. As we receive God's love, it transforms us from the inside out. His love fills us and overflows to those around us.
Loving the unloveable is not easy, but it is possible. Through the power of God's love working in us, we can love those who are hard to love. Let us pray that God would give us the strength and grace to love our enemies and those who oppose us, and may our love point them to the love of Christ.
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This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
In Matthew 5:44-46, Jesus challenges us to love our enemies and those who oppose us. This is a difficult teaching to embrace, especially in today's world where it seems like we're constantly bombarded by messages that promote divisiveness. But as Christians, we are called to a higher standard of love. We are called to love not only those who differ from us, but to love those who are unloveable. It's easy to love those who love us back.
But Jesus reminds us that even the tax collectors and sinners do that. The love that Jesus calls us to is one that goes beyond what is expected or deserved. It's a love that seeks the good of another, even when they have done us wrong. Loving our enemies doesn't mean that we excuse, agree with, or ignore their actions. Rather, it means that we choose to respond with love instead of hate. We can pray for those who mistreat us, bless them, and even do good to them. This type of love is not natural. It is supernatural, and it can only come from God.
As we strive to love our enemies, we must also recognize that we ourselves were once enemies of God. But God loved us first, even while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is the ultimate demonstration of love. Christ died for us, even though we were His enemies. If we are to love our enemies, we must first receive the love of God. We cannot give what we do not have. As we receive God's love, it transforms us from the inside out. His love fills us and overflows to those around us.
Loving the unloveable is not easy, but it is possible. Through the power of God's love working in us, we can love those who are hard to love. Let us pray that God would give us the strength and grace to love our enemies and those who oppose us, and may our love point them to the love of Christ.
---
This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
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