<\/p>\n
\u201cFor if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?\u201d (Matthew 5:46,47).<\/p>\n
LOVING THOSE WHO HAVE HARMED US IS ONE OF THE SIMPLEST THINGS JESUS EVER COMMANDED, AND ONE OF THE HARDEST. It\u2019s simple because it\u2019s very basic and goes right to the heart of what\u2019s important in life. Yet it\u2019s hard because it goes so strongly against the grain of the worldly thinking to which we\u2019re accustomed.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that our ideas are often quite naive concerning the meaning and practice of loving our enemies. Whatever it does mean, loving our enemies doesn\u2019t mean we enjoy being in their presence or have a warm, fuzzy feeling when we think about them. It doesn\u2019t mean we practice the same social relationship with them that we\u2019d be able to practice if they repented of their wrongs. And it doesn\u2019t mean we never cry out to God for justice to be done. David, for example, loved his enemies with a remarkable love, as evidenced by his treatment of Saul, his worst enemy (2 Samuel 1:17-27). It was not inconsistent, however, for David to pray, \u201cRevive me, O Lord, for Your name\u2019s sake! For Your righteousness\u2019 sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant\u201d (Psalm 143:11,12).<\/p>\n
The key is that David had learned to see his enemies in the same light that God did, with both love and a respect for justice. If our enemies refuse to repent of their wrongs, we should not only accept God\u2019s justice but long for it to be done (Revelation 6:10). At the same time, we should be willing to make significant sacrifices, as God did, to make their return from sin possible. God did more than talk about loving His enemies; He went so far as to sacrifice His Son\u2019s life for them. What treasure would we sacrifice \u2014 yes, sacrifice<\/em> \u2014 to promote the salvation of our enemies?<\/p>\n Worldly relationships are built on mutual goodwill, but God has set His people a much higher goal. If we\u2019re among His people, we must act with love and justice even when these aren\u2019t reciprocated.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt is a small thing to wish well and do well to one who has done you no evil. It is far greater \u2014 a magnificent goodness \u2014 to love your enemy, and to wish and do well to one who is trying to harm you\u201d (Augustine of Hippo).<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n