Loving Our Enemies: A Test of Being A True Disciple
Loving Our Enemies : A Test of Being A True Disciple
“You have heard that it was said , ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you : Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you , that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven . He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous . If you love those who love you , what reward will you get ? Are not even the tax collectors doing that ? And if you greet only your brother, what are you doing more than others. Do not even pagans do that ? Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
Loving your enemies is one of the most difficult commandments of JesusChrist for his followers. Loving those people who makes your life miserable, those people who desire your downfall, those people who are considered as your rivals or competitors, those people who take away your business contacts or take away the attention of your love from you , or those people who backbite you and spread malicious rumors about you, is really somewhat an impossible task. With our flesh we cannot do it on our own, but we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.
JesusChrist sets an exemplary model of loving our enemies. He washed the feet of his betrayer and he prayed for those who planned his crucifixion. Loving our enemies is a very difficult task for a Christian , but this love brings much glory to God. We cannot be considered as true disciple of Christ unless we have learned to love our enemies. It is a kind of love that involves dying to one self. It involves crushing of our pride and ego. What withholds us from loving our enemies. It is the pride in us that withholds us from loving our enemies. Loving our enemies is a test of our calling as a true disciple of Christ. It involves dying to our pride and ego.
Father God is the supreme model of this love . For the Father in Heaven causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rains on the righteous and unrighteous. This shows God’s impartiality in providing his natural resources. He provides for the wicked not only for the good. He provides for those who violate his moral laws . He provides for those who does not honor him. He provides for the rebels. God is the ultimate model of loving oue enemies. And Christ demands that if we want to be perfect we must imitate our Heavenly Father.
Of course this task of loving our enemies and imitating our Heavenly Father is an impossible task for the non-christians. It is given to the regenerates, to the true believers of Christ who experienced being born of the Spirit. The religious hypocrites in Jesus time who take pride that they are able to fulfill the Law was astonished by this command for they consider themselves as true sons of God. But the truth is that they are still very far from perfection.
If we really want to please God , if we really want to get his approval, if we really want to give him glory, we must learn to love our enemies. It is not easy, it is a difficult task that requires daily dying to the self-life. But if we really want God to smile on us , we have no other alternative. Loving our enemies is a great display of our ultimate obedience to the Lordship of Christ.
It will not really be difficult if we will recall to our mind about ourselves being God’s enemies before we become Christians. We were once rebels, transgressors of his divine law, adverse to all his ways, every inclination of our thoughts is detestable to the holy God. Yet God love us, Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. If we will only realized how great is our indebtedness to God, then it will not really be difficult to forgive and love our enemies.
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Comments
A lovely article. Turning the other cheek is equally difficult for many, but it is based upon the same lesson.
Whenever we judge anything in this world as important, we are following the master of this world. We should "hate" this world and its importances. Anything which is important is that way only because of the ego (selfishness).
Even our physical body is not important. Even God is not important, for viewing God from this viewpoint is to adore Him for selfish reasons, just as the Pharisees did.
Ate Cristina this is beautifully done thank you. Loving, even an enemy is so much easier and peace rendering for both parties and it make it easier for your so called enemy to begin to like you.
It is almost impossible for someone who is an enemy to continue their ill will when you turn to them and forgivethem and tell them that you love them. They don't know how to respond to something like that.
Great job! This is so very true.....we must learn to love our enemies. The Lord has really taught me this truth in the past year. It is difficult to swallow your pride and love regardless of what they do to you, but the peace God gives is worth it. Voted up and useful!
Cristina,
I think this line sums it up. "If we really want to please God , if we really want to get his approval, if we really want to give him glory, we must learn to love our enemies." It's really all about God--not the other person, and certainly not us. Thanks for sharing this important message.
Hi Cristina.
Very true
It is also important to set boundaries that prevent abuse from mean abusive people. That too is part of love. Many people do not understand that part of it.
God bless you.
I just told myself this earlier today, as I started to have bad thoughts about my ex, and what he did. So I prayed for him instead. We are made in his image and meant to be strong and to forgive. Jesus forgave all of the people that were mean to him, mocked him, and even crucified him! We should have his love for ourselves others: loving, forgiving, peace. The world now is based on money and money, politics, and more money!!
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Hi lone77star thank you for visiting this hub and giving some generous comments. Turning the other cheek is really difficult as loving our enemies. But our obedience to this commandment of Christ depends upon how serious we are in our relationship with the Lord. It depends upon how much we love the LOrd. It is really a test of our commitment to Christ. May you have a great day today. Be blessed and regards.
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Hi Dave Matthews thank you for gracing this hub. I am glad to see you on this hub. Yes loving your enemies is very difficult for it involves dying to oneself and your enemy may not comprehend why you are good to him. Whatever his reaction could be, just follow Christ
commandment of loving our enemies. It will surely do you good and will have good effect on you. Blessings to you always and best regards.
One of the fruits of the spirit, is love! This kind of love gives and expects nothing in return, this kind of love can only come from God. Love like this takes faith and as you said, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit! Blessings!
You are right in posting that it is not for the unbeliever to consider forgiving enemies, although they may. It is our life style to forgive those who cause us harm and ill will. As we forgive, it is healing our spirit, which will help us to become wholly complete in Christ. Blessings.
Great Article....We have something in common.
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Hi Emily Sparks great to hear from you. Thank you for gracing and appreciating this hub. Your visit is much appreciated. Yes it is really difficult to love our enemies but our lives will be blessed more in doing so. We may discover one day that our enemies could help us in some other ways. And it really gives great peace knowing that you have no enemies. Blessings to you always and to your family. Best regards.
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Hi lifegate I am glad to hear from you again. Thanks for dropping by. Yes loving our enemies is all about pleasing God and giving Him glory. Blesswings to you always and your family. Best regards.
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Hi teacherjoe52 nice to hear from you. Thank you for taking time to visit this hub, remain blessed always and best regards.
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Hi Cristale great to hear from you. Thank you for a visit. Yes you did the right thing in praying for your ex. It will give you peace of mind and better disposition in life. It will release your heart from bitterness. Blessings to you always and best regards.
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Hi wba108@yahoo.com I am glad to see you on this hub. Thank you for dropping by. Yes loving our enemies is possible only with the power of the Holy Spirit. For it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to live the supernatural life of a christian. Remain blessed always and best regards.
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Hi teaches12345 I am glad to hear from you again . I am greatly blessed by your visit. Yes I agree with you that we become whole spiritually by getting our hearts rid of all forms of grudges and bitterness. it also affects our physical well being as well. Thank you for sharing you thought on this. May you have a great day today. Remain blessed always. Best regards.
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Hi Nikki Major I am glad to see you on this hub. Welcome to my hubs. Thank you for taking time to visit. Remain blessed always and best regards.
Cristina, WONDERFUL & AMEN! This is POWERFUL and INSIGHTFUL! What makes it so wonderful is that GOD KNOWS why we do or do not do what we do! There is so much Spiritual Warfare to undermine what we sincerely do for the LORD!
As you so wonderfully stated: “Loving your enemies is one of the most difficult commandments of Jesus Christ for his followers. Loving those people who makes your life miserable, those people who desire your downfall, those people who are considered as your rivals or competitors, those people who take away your business contacts or take away the attention of your love from you , or those people who backbite you and spread malicious rumors about you, is really somewhat an impossible task. With our flesh we cannot do it on our own, but we have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.” AMEN! & PRAISE GOD!! We can have PEACE in the LORD knowing that our reputation is ALWAYS safe in HIM! Be ENCOURAGED! We CAN overcome evil with GOOD!!!
Thank you for sharing and confirming the LORD’S WORD! GOD alone is AWESOME! May our Heavenly Father abundantly SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS upon YOU in JESUS NAME! In HIS Love, Grace, Mercy, Joy, Peace & Blessings!
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Hi DeBorrah ! Great to hear from you again. I am greatly blessed and encouraged by your visit. Thank you for dropping by and appreciating this hub. Loving our enemies is an impossible task if we will rely only on our flesh but it is possible with the power of the Holy Spirit. May you have a great day today. Blessings to you always and your family. Best regards.
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