Today’s Encouragement is “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27 NLT
Love Your Enemies –
Jesus teaches us to live His way in a complete reversal of the world’s way.
By the world’s definition of ‘enemy,’ hate is pretty much a given! But Jesus brings us the better way, the best way, His.
Now, notice who this action will impact – You! When we love those who hate us… we become free from their power to harm us. By choosing to hate another, we take into our hearts and minds the heavy burden, sleep-stealing, peace-destroying, love-strangling emotion of hatred.
Please don’t let the movie version, hippie-dippie, stereotypical caricature of the one who thinks everyone and everything is lovely, enter your mind. We’re talking real-world here… The person who caused you the greatest pain, perhaps indescribable pain… that enemy. Choose to forgive them, choose to love. In doing so, you eliminate their power to harm you.
Remembering what they’ve done, you relive all the hurt and pain. It’s like reopening a wound. But, choosing to forgive and to love instead of hate – as an act of your will, Faith in God, and obedience to His instruction, this forgiveness and love – sets you free.
Jesus recognizes that some of us aren’t willing to listen. Some will choose to continue to hate, to hold onto the memory of the hurt, and not forgive. And they hurt only themselves by doing so.
Father, Help us! We admit we cannot love others adequately, much less our enemies. But in Christ, we can do all things. Help us to love our enemies, Father.
Where Would I Be
Christy Nockels
Today’s Encouragement 