MrWonder's Bible Chat

Love Your Enemies...........

Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:43-48
�?STRONG>You have heard that it was said, (Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you; Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you�?(Matthew 5:43-44).

We may respond to today’s Mandate from our Master with a horrified protest, “What a total impossibility!�?BR>
In our passage, Jesus spells out its threefold implementation; speak well of enemies, find ways to do them good, and pray for them.

And it works. Once we begin to pray sincerely for an enemy we are well on the way to accomplishing the rest of what Jesus asks of us. When the Spirit of God makes genuine forgiveness a reality in us, then we find ourselves speaking well of our enemy and looking for ways to do him good.

This �?STRONG>law of love�?/FONT> operated in some of the men who fought the Japanese in World War II. They saw close friends slain, but through the miracle of forgiveness working in them by the Holy Spirit, they felt God’s call to go back to Japan after the war. With love and compassion they pointed their former enemies to Christ, and many became brothers in the Lord.

Insight: Self-giving love for our enemies does not come naturally to any of us. Paul tells us to pursue it by following the way of love (see 1 Corinthians 14:1).

Jesus is Lord of All
Michael D. Inman
- Going to church doesn't make you a Christian...
...any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. -
(Like Jesus, I just love YOU....Forever!)

Restoration Ministry
http://www.rollanet.org/~restore/
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