How can we "love our enemies" in practical, everyday situations? Anchoring Ourselves in Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return; then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Love That Looks Like Jesus • The command is not sentimental; it mirrors the Father, “kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” • By loving enemies, we display our family resemblance as “sons of the Most High.” • The promise of “great reward” reminds us God notices every costly act of mercy. Practical Habits of Enemy-Love • Speak blessings, not barbs (1 Peter 3:9). • Pray by name for those who wound you (Matthew 5:44). • Serve tangible needs—meals, rides, help with projects (Romans 12:20). • Lend or give without strings; release the right to collect (Luke 6:35). • Guard your words when they are absent; refuse gossip. • Celebrate any good you can honestly affirm in them. • Forgive quickly and repeatedly (Ephesians 4:32). • Replace rehearsing hurts with rehearsing God’s mercy toward you. Everyday Scenarios • Workplace rivalry: congratulate the coworker who angling for your spot; offer assistance on their project. • Family friction: send an encouraging text to the relative who slandered you; invite them to dinner without dredging up the dispute. • Online hostility: respond with facts spoken in gentleness; thank them for sharing their view, then disengage respectfully. • Neighborhood tension: mow the lawn strip both of you share; bring cookies after their dog ruined your flowerbed. • Church conflict: when meeting goes sideways, follow up with a handwritten note expressing gratitude for their service and reaffirming unity in Christ. Motives That Keep the Heart Soft • Remember how Christ loved us “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). • Trust God to settle accounts; He alone judges righteously (Romans 12:19). • View enemy-love as gospel witness—light that makes people “glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). • Anticipate the eternal “great reward” promised by Jesus. Divine Power for a Humanly Impossible Task • The same Spirit who raised Jesus lives in us (Romans 8:11); rely on Him moment by moment. • Immerse your mind in Scriptures that showcase God’s kindness (Exodus 34:6; Titus 3:4-5). • Meet regularly with believers who will cheer you on and hold you accountable. • Keep short accounts with God—confess failure, receive fresh cleansing, and try again. Stepping Out Today Love your enemies starts with one Spirit-empowered choice: answer hostility with the kindness you yourself keep receiving from the Most High. |
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