Love Your Enemies

Nowhere in Scripture are God's people told to hate their enemies, but what we learn from Jesus throughout His ministry is that many of the religious leaders and their followers hated enemies and neighbours alike, if they could accuse them of being outside of their sphere of care and concern.

Jesus shows His disciples a simpler way: just love everyone and pray, even for those who hate you. How different are His words than our thoughts! Sometimes we think that the Christian walk is so hard, and while it IS counter-cultural, and we need the Lord's help at every step, we are experts at making our lives more complicated than they need to be. God gives us simple instructions but pride and unbelief get in the way.

Ultimately we learn that the reason we are to show love to both friend and foe, is because then we are like our heavenly father (5:45).