Love Your Enemies

”You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”---Mt.5:43,44 So the first time we see “love” in the New Testament is in Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” And of all things, he is telling his followers to love their enemies. In a year’s time or in a decade we all have people that we would consider as enemies at some level relationally. --- If Jesus were here today, and he posted this on Facebook, Twitter or some other social media; how radical would this be? How fitting would it be in today’s time? He reminds them about loving their neighbor. This was something they were supposed to be doing. Pause for a moment. If everyone was loving their neighbor, then we would never be at war. Soak on that one. But we obviously are not, because we don’t always adhere to the teachings of Jesus, and others reject the teachings of Jesus. If we were all indeed devout followers of Jesus Christ, then there would be no skirmishes, no war; instead there would be peace. --- Jesus knew so much, therefore he followed with “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How would that post from Jesus fly on social media today? Well, his words have been posted into a text that like a “screenshot” cannot be taken back. Are the words of Jesus relevant today? --- I think those who love him and those who reject him, and even those who live for him every now and then can see the truth. Will we, however, ignore the powerful words of Jesus? Will we in 2016 test the power of love by extending love and prayers to those whom we would naturally consider enemies? ---- If you’re like me, then you are frustrated with the unrest in the world today. You also feel like terrorism and such is so global that you can do nothing about it. --- Let’s take Jesus’ word to heart by loving our neighbors. If real change is to take place then it will be from a grassroots effort locally first. Add to that praying for our enemies to be changed by love. Perhaps that sounds unbelievable, but think about--- have we really tried it?