Love Your Enemies

by Brandy Webb

Midterm elections have started, and it sparked an idea for this blog. No, this is not a political blog, and I am not going to talk about elections. The thing that I was thinking about is how much hate comes out during elections. It isn’t as bad during midterm elections, but it is bad enough. And, a thought came into my mind, if people just showed love to their enemies the world would be a much more beautiful place.

We all know, though, that love is lacking in this world that we live in, but we are to be set apart, which means we are to act in love, regardless. We have to live in this world, but we are not to be of this world. What really makes you and me set apart is when we “love [our] enemies, bless those who curse [us], do good to those who hate [us], and pray for those who mistreat [us] and persecute [us]” (Matt 5:44). This is what makes us God’s children. He is in control. He wants us to have character that is beyond the world’s character.

It isn’t easy to love our enemies and especially to pray blessings upon them. Remember, when the Messiah tells us to pray for them, it is to pray for their well being, not to pray for God to crush them. He knows that it is easier to love those who love us back, but “what reward do you have” if you only show love to people who are nice to you and love you back (Matt 5:47)? Doesn’t everyone else in the world do at least that?

We are to walk in the Gospel of Peace. One aspect of the Gospel of Peace is love. The Messiah didn’t curse the people for crucifying Him, and He was perfect. No, He prayed for them right there nailed to a tree. In excruciating pain, He says “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He is our example. I know that we aren’t perfect, and He was perfect. Yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t try to live the life He wants us to live, and to walk in His footsteps.

There is hatred, anger, bitterness, envy, evil, etc... all around us. We are bombarded by it, especially from the media. I know that there are times that I wish I could just say something when someone who is supposed to be so smart says something absolutely ridiculous. Also, when I see how Christians are getting persecuted even in this country, but the thing is, vengeance is God’s, not ours. Plus, this world isn’t going to get better until the true King rules. So, we have to fight back with love. Love is an action, and actions always speak louder than words.

Remember, all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, the next time you or I feel the urge to curse someone because they wronged us in some way or because they wronged someone else, we must remember to “bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14).

The Messiah died for all of us. God wishes that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9). Therefore, let’s make a mark on this world with love. We must abstain from evil, and show love to others even if we really don’t like them. God knows that it isn’t easy to do; that is why we have the comforter/helper to give us God’s power to do what is right. Let us remember when it is really hard to show love that we have a hope that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us” (Romans 8:18).