“But if you will listen, I say to you, love your enemies and do something wonderful for them in return for their hatred. When someone curses you, bless that person in return. When you are mistreated and harassed by others, accept it as your mission to pray for them. To those who despise you, continue to serve them and minister to them. If someone comes to beg from you, give to that person what you have. When things are wrongly taken from you, do not demand they be given back. However you wish to be treated by others is how you should treat everyone else. Are you really showing true love by only loving those who love you back? Even those who don’t know God will do that. Show mercy and compassion for others, just as your heavenly Father overflows with mercy and
compassion for all.” Luke 6:27-32,36 TPT
We are taught, and for the most part, most of us have been blessed to have lived surrounded by love from birth. In the typical family , there are ups and downs, but for most of the time, love is the underlying emotion that tends to hold the members together. Unfortunately, life tends to carry with it circumstances that can lead to anger, which if left unchecked, can begin to tear away at our love for one another.
In this passage, Jesus is speaking, expressing the importance of loving our enemies. This kind of love takes a special effort, since it is not falling in love, instead it is showing respect for them, by making a special effort to act in their best interest. Jesus was the perfect example, since he loves the whole world, and His desire is for us to follow in his footsteps. He tells us to love and treat people in the same manner that we desire to be treated realizing that our ability to do so is found in the asking.
Heavenly Father, help us to realize the importance of following your example by showing our love for our enemies and be ever so thankful.
In Christ Love
Margaret