Memorize: Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Read: Luke 6:27-35
The injunction of God is for us to hear His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. There are other treaties that can be pointed to in scripture particularly in the old testament characterized in the acts of Men of God to whom God never directed us to emulate. Every time the Lord speaks of the enemy, He referred to an individual, Satan. When He spoke of your enemies, He referred to those human elements whose minds the enemy has tainted against you. But in the strict sense, when you can conquer the enemy in your affairs, you will see the end of your enemies. For if your ways be pleasing to God, He will make your enemies to be at peace with you.
Christ’s response to the issue of the enemies is that we love them knowing that they are not the real source of enmity. It is a good and easy thing to love our friends. It is something difficult to see people condemn you wrongfully after all the good you did for them and yet love, pray for and give to them. Still, the latter is the command of the Lord. When giving, it is easier to give to someone you know would reciprocate some day; but giving to someone you do not expect from is better and it is the true act of love. This the Lord enjoins.
When last have you given lofty things to the real poor? I have been to gatherings where the affluent gave to their peers who apparently had no lack, wads of money and ignored the true poor and beggars in their midst. They gave thousands of their denominations to the rich but would not spare more than coins to the truly needy. What else can be more wicked? The Lord is calling us unto repentance from today. Love genuinely by giving to the needy who cannot give you anything back but prayers; bless your enemies and stop recompensing evil for evil. If you do, then are you like Christ who despite all the “enemies” did, He prayed His Father to forgive them. Drop that wrath now and please pray for those people instead. Who knows, they may end up being your greatest benefactors later in life.
Pray: Father, I know your injunctions are for my benefit and therefore I am willing to stay in them. Do help me in the mortification of my flesh so that I may truly love the needy and pray for my enemies; just so that I may be like you truly in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
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