How to LOVE Your ENEMY.Sample

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Jesus’ command in Matthew 5:9, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God”, could be interpreted as being a command to roll over when it comes to conflict. Do anything to keep the waters calm.

But that doesn’t accurately resemble Jesus’ life on earth.

Jesus stood for truth and that often got Him into some (seriously) hot water with His ‘friends’ the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In reality, Jesus went on to say: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19: The world would love you as one of its own ………… , but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you..” (John 15:18 - 19)

Notice that Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” not the peacekeepers. A peacekeeper’s job is to prevent conflict and not upset the status quo. But a peacemaker revolutionises the status quo to arrive at peace.

You’re called to be the light of the line-up

This plan has been all about loving our enemies, which is a completely countercultural concept in a world that is all about status, rights, and ego.

Much of loving your enemy is about humility. It’s about letting go of pride, even when you’re right, and choosing to love the person who persecutes you. The Bible says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

Imagine God actively opposing you – the Creator of everything, going out of His way to oppose you.

Now imagine God showing you favour. The Creator of the earth, the moon, the stars, your children – imagine that Being showing you favour. Wow! What a thought.

And how can you and I gain God’s favour? Through humility! So you can see what a gift it is to seat yourself at the bottom of the table. To turn the other cheek. To pray for your enemy. And to become a peacemaker. Because God actually shows you favour when you humble yourself.

Conflict grows and people become enemies because of the human instinct to return fire when someone wrongs us.

But loving your enemy is showing the world a new way to be human. It’s about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Loving your enemy is living as God intended us to live – filled with humility while boldly standing for truth!

Reflect

Which day in this plan has challenged you most? How is God calling you to respond?

Pray

Lord, thank-you for the way that You love me and call me to love my enemies. I can’t do it without You! Fill me with Your love and peace, so that I can become a peacemaker, too.

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