Can we love our enemies?

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

People can be mean.  I think back to when I used to ride the bus to school every day. I remember one kid that would just pick on everyone. He was an older student and he sure was mean.  It got so bad that he even made some of the kids cry.  There are some people like this boy that are just plain mean.  So the question is with all the mean people that we meet around us, is it really possible to love those who are mean to us?

I think the answer is “yes”.  The Bible says in Matthew 5:44 – “But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.”   How do we do that? How do we muster up love for people who are mean and don’t treat others with respect? The Bible says in Romans 5:5 that the love of God has been placed into our hearts. So yes, God tells us to love our enemies which can seem hard, but he gives us the love to do it with.

So, that bully you come across everyday, or the people in your life that seem to be too hard to love, you can love them. Why? Because you don’t have to love them with your own love. You love them with the love that God has placed into your heart. So remember that when loving mean people gets hard, you’re not doing it alone. The love of God has been placed in your heart. You’ve got all the love you need to love your enemies.

Dear Lord, thank You for placing Your love in our heart. We thank You that with that love we can love those who are mean and unlovable. We ask You to help us to love others and know that with Your help we can love my enemies. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Are We Saying What We Mean?

There's a story of the supervisor who was working in a huge corporation. He was called in by the big-wigs and told that a new project was underway. The supervisor's department would be given the responsibility of overseeing the project if they could get it down on blueprint plans. If the job was successful, the big-wigs said, the supervisor could be assured of a hefty increase in pay and a promotion as well.



The supervisor gathered his people together and with great enthusiasm, started to roll out the information needed to get the blueprints started. His staff, however, couldn't grasp the idea. He tried from another angle. No luck. His patience grew thin, but he just couldn't get his point across because he wasnt being clear. Finally, in exasperation, the supervisor yelled at them: "Dont listen to what I say. Listen to what I mean!"


Many times we get frustrated as we give the Gospel to others because we aren't clear about salvation. It may not be the resistance of the listener. We might try to yell out for them to understand what we mean. Let's check our presentation of the Word. Are we saying what we mean?






11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.


-1 John 5:11-12 (New King James Version)






Dear Lord we pray that when given the opportunity we will share the Gospel with others. Help us to study Your word so we will know what we are saying. In Jesus’ name, Amen.