But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[b] 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45
If one is to believe what the world press and social media say, life on planet earth is becoming hostile to itself. The country I love is almost unrecognizable. Every day reveals yet another layer of the bizarre and the unthinkable unfolding before our eyes. Almost daily the headlines scream at us: more horrific terror attacks, more fellow Americans shot and killed by their fellow Americans. Police are graphically live streamed as both perpetrators and victims of violence. Racial and social discord is the worst in decades. A hostile “we-they” mentality grips the nation on every front. Acts of barbarism against civilians and the innocent are so prevalent and gut wrenching they threaten to desensitize the hearts of the people.
Right now especially Christians are called to respond differently to the world, most of all to those who hate us. Despite all the turmoil and threats, God is still God and Jesus is Lord and Savior. As the Prince of Peace He comforts t our distresses, promising that we can have peace and even joy in the midst of craziness.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Before He left earth, Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit to remind His disciples of everything He had taught them. Two thousand years later, the Lord’s message has not changed one iota. Right now in this volatile summer of 2016, the Holy Spirit calls Christians to be in the world with the radically transformed mind of Christ . We are not to react in anger or fear or hatred but are to “love our enemies, to bless rather than curse, to forgive rather than seek revenge and be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. “ Instead of entering into the world’s contentious arena as pagan gladiators, we come as the blessed children of God, loving our enemies and being kingdom peacemakers. It is Christ’s peace, the peace of reconciliation with the Father through love which the Holy Spirit reminds us to bring to this very broken world.
Jesus’ commandments to follow Him are not easy, especially when the barbarians are scaling the walls of our security. How does one “love” evil men who randomly massacre the innocent and then brazenly boast of it? Who can love an enemy ready to butcher my neighbor – and me? How is it possible not to hate the other right back and then some?
On my own, I cannot turn the other cheek. But Jesus did. His message of love and forgiveness is eternal and unchanging. The Romans who ruled Palestine and crucified Jesus in the first century were every bit as cruel and heartless as the 21st century’s new barbarians. Jesus was executed in the most demeaning, vicious and excruciating manner possible by those trained to inflict torment. In His greatest agony Jesus forgave His enemies, overcame hatred with love and destroyed the enemy’s death grip forever. Only through the person of Christ is it possible to choose to love my enemy and to forgive as often as is needed.
The world needs to hear the gospel of hope, love and forgiveness. Who but you and I and the Spirit of God within us dare proclaim and show divine love to the face of our enemy?
From The Sheep Pen 