Do you want to learn how to love your enemies?
Sounds impossible, right? It’s much easier to love people that are lovable or who love us back. But what does Jesus mean when He tells us to love our enemies?
In last week’s Bible study on Matthew 5:43-48, we looked at Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies so that we may reflect the character of our heavenly Father. God causes the sun to rise on both the evil and the good, and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
I find this teaching very challenging. When someone hurts us, our natural response is to distance ourselves, hold onto resentment, or decide that they no longer deserve our love. But Jesus calls us to something different.
Loving our enemies does not mean turning a blind eye to wrongdoing or ignoring justice. We can still disagree with or disapprove of wrongful actions while choosing to respond with love. Loving our enemies frees us from being controlled by hatred and resentment.
This is not an easy teaching. Loving our enemies requires a strength that does not come naturally to us. But when God gives us a goal, He also provides the strength, and wisdom that we need to pursue it.
Summary by Meng Ping