What Jesus Did : Luke 6:27 - What to Do with Enemies?
by Phil Ware
What to Do with Enemies? - Luke 6:27
"I say to you people that are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those people that hate you." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Can you think of anything more convicting than these words of Jesus? The goal of a Christian is to be like the Master. That means we are redemptive in all that we do. The goal is clear with our enemies; we are to love them and to do good to them. The question for us is not what our goal or our example is. The question is whether or not we have the courage and the commitment to be willing to listen to Jesus.
Today's Prayer
Father, I confess that doing good to and loving my enemy is not something I enjoy doing or find easy. Please use your Holy Spirit to transform me and empower me to be more like your Son as I deal with my enemies. Give me wisdom to know how to stand for righteousness and truth, to oppose evil and those who promote it, and not to become corrupted by the power of hate. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"I say to you people that are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those people that hate you. Ask God to bless those people that say bad things to you. Pray for those people that are mean to you. If a person hits you on the side of your face, let him hit the other side too. If a person takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt too. Give to every person that asks you. When a person takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back. Do for other people what you want them to do for you. "If you love only those people that love you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners love the people that love them! If you do good only to those people that do good to you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners do that! If you loan things to people, always expecting to get something back, should you get some special praise for that? No! Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! "I'm telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do these things, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High (God). Yes, because God is good even to the people that are full of sin and not thankful. Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.-- Luke Luke 6:27-36 (ERV)
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