What is Love? God's View On Love And RelationshipsSample

SAY WHAT?

Love your enemies/haters and pray for those that are out to get you.

BREAKDOWN: I remember the shows that were out when I was growing up. Back then there was a clear line between the good guy, like Batman, and the bad guy, like the Joker. It was easy to understand who the enemy was because they tried to do harm against the good person and the innocent people they were sworn to protect.

In this text Jesus is teaching that while we know, or should know, who our enemy is, we need to love them with the love of Christ. In order to do this, you must know who’s an enemy and who isn’t. Remember, enemies are the ones that don’t want you to succeed and try to do what they can to hold you back. I know now that I allowed people I thought were friends to hold me back from where God wanted me. Then there were others I thought were enemies that actually pushed me closer to Christ. I suggest that you reexamine your enemies and friends and place them in the right columns.

Also take heed of what the Bible says about how we should pray for God to work in the lives of our enemies and those that persecute us. The Greek word for persecute (dioko) means “to put to flight or pursue”. We should pray for those that are always trying to get us and/or harm us. Love is prayerful.

LIVE IT OUT: Today ask God to show you the people you counted as friends and those you counted as enemies. Are they in the correct column? If not place them into the right column and still pray for them and pray that God will work in their lives.

PRAYER: Jesus today help me to move past how I feel about those that I count to be my enemies and those that are trying to get me but today Lord bless them and more on their behalf God. It’s in Jesus’ name that I pray Amen.

Greek Word: Prayer = Proseuche "pros-yoo-khay”