Love Your Neighbor That's Easy but Jesus says Love Your Enemies. Ouch!

The end of this bitter election brought along with it some raw feelings from every side or angle in the last couple of days. I know because I was one who was feeling a tad bit of emotion.

Today as I sat brooding at my desk I shuffled through a pile of papers and uncovered notes from a message by Pastor Greg from a couple of weeks back: How to Love People Who Don't Like You. Loving your Enemies...

Is it an accident I found these notes this very day?

Luke 6:27-35 (NIV)

Love for Enemies

 27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Pastor Greg: Live out these radical commands of Christ and watch what God does with your obedience.

How:

With prayers: Verse 28

With Words: Verse 28

With Actions: Verse 27

Don't:

Defend your honor. Jesus held His tongue. Verse 29

Fight for your rights: Verse 29

Do:

Be generous. Verse 30,35

Be proactive: Verse 35

Why:

Because love for our enemies is what makes us resemble God.

The Gospel becomes compelling when our lives are compelling.

Be Blessed, Lynn

PS. The Kingdom Assignment stories are beginning to roll in. Click on the link in the sidebar to read and add your own.

Comments

[Laurie Ann]

Great post. Much wisdom found here. I love the verses you listed - encouraging and inspiring guidance.

[Ang4him (Angela)]

Wonderful post Lynn and perfect timing for me - but then you knew that :)

Bless you and thank you for all your kinds and wise words.

[Denise]

Blessings and love to you sweetie.

[Wickle]

Beautiful post.

I think that part of why we get so wrapped up in elections is that we forget, for a while, that our kingdom isn't of this world.

God will still be on His throne whether Democrats, Republicans, Whigs, Socialists, Libertarians, or Greens hold the White House. We put so much time and energy into trying to make the world a better place through politics (which is not entirely wrong, just to be clear) that we sometimes lose sight of the eternal side of it -- that God raises up those leaders whom He chooses.

Thanks for the reminder. I think we all need it sometimes.

[Debbie]

When we walk in our "flesh" ...we want to strike back. But when we choose to walk in the "spirit" we invite Jesus to live through us. And others around us get to see the difference. How wonderful is that? This is a great lesson Lynn. Thanks for posting.