Love Those Who Hate You
Today people are so divided. People have learned to hate anyone with whom they disagree on just one subject. Most people are not capable of having a friendly debate anymore. It is sad. One of the best ways to find the truth is friendly debate. One of the best ways to figure out exactly what you believe and why is a friendly debate. It helps you figure out why you believe what you believe and better defend your beliefs (even though the point of a debate should not be to win, but to discover truth).
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (1 Peter 3:15)
As Christians we should not be as the world. We should be better. We should care about the good of others. We should show love as Jesus showed love to us. Matthew 5:43-48 states:
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How often do we, as Christians, actually act this way? How often do we act differently than unbelievers? Do we love our enemies? Do we pray for our enemies? I think for most of us, the answer is “No”, especially if you add the word “consistently” to the questions. We may pull it off occasionally, but rarely can we do it continually. Sometimes I wonder if we even manage to be polite. We rarely act in a truly loving manner.
It is hard to love those who hate you and call you names and persecute you, but that is what we are called to do. We tend to strike out in anger and self defense, but that is NOT what we are called to do. Instead of focusing on our hurt or who is right and who is wrong, we need to look at others as Christ looks at them, hurting sinners made in the image of God. That image may be severely tarnished, but it is there if we are willing to make the effort to look for it.
From John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" Book 3, Chapter 7, Section 6.
"Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is not merely difficult, but utterly against human nature: to love those who hate us, to repay their evil deeds with benefits, to return blessings for reproaches. It is that we remember not to consider men's evil intention but to look upon the image of God in them, which cancels and effaces their transgressions, and with its beauty and dignity allures us to love and embrace them."
In ourselves, loving our “enemies” consistently is impossible, but with God, nothing is impossible. Trust God and He will help you do what you have been called to do.
Trust Jesus.
Your sister in Christ,
Christy
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