Love your Enemies

This statement from John MacArthur really struck me when I first read it … “You are never more like God than when you love your enemies.” This statement is based on Matthew 5:44, "But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you".  

This verse commands believers to: 

1. Love our enemies. 

2. Do good to those who hate us. 

3. Bless those who curse us. 

4. Pray for those who persecute us. 

I am guessing that most of us have had an enemy or two in our lifetime. It is hard to escape in a sinful world where most do what is right in their own eyes without considering other commands in the Bible that command us to …  

• Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves". 

• Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another". 

• 1 Corinthians 10:24 "Let no one seek his own only, but every one another's benefit". 

• Matthew 20:16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last".  

Today, the world shouts, “ME FIRST” and “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME”! A very different perspective than what God commands us to do. If we were all honest, we would admit that this can be a daily struggle for each of us. I have always thought ... it is easy to love those that love us, but it is godly to love our enemies (those who hurt us). Godliness is something that only God can help us with because, apart from his grace, we would not be victorious. So how can we grow in love toward our enemies? 

• Pray for God to do the work in our hearts that we are unable to. Help us to see our enemies through His eyes and His love. God loves the sinner, not the sin. He understands that we are incapable of living a righteous life apart from His grace. 

• Pray for the enemy. We should desire to see God’s work in their life. We can ask that God do the work necessary to bring them to a place of repentance where they can glorify Him.  

• Seek the BEST for the enemy. Our desire should be to see them grow in knowledge of the truth. This, in turn, will increase our love for the enemy.    

• Look for ways to encourage others and meet their needs. Be intentional about being a blessing, demonstrating God’s love through tangible acts that reflect His work in our hearts. 

• Extend mercy to the enemy. Allow God to use us to demonstrate grace to others who may not deserve it … just as we ourselves are undeserving of His mercy.   

Our perfect example of loving our enemies is the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us". While we were enemies of God, Christ did what was best for us. He took our place on the cross and died for our sins.