You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt 5:43-48
Within these words of Jesus, we learn something from the Father’s heart. It is to love our enemies. God requires us to love those that persecute us and say all sorts of evil about us. It is only God’s power that enable us to live up to this standard. This is our weapon for attack and for defence… to continue to do God’s will. If we love Him, his burden is not difficult to carry, but a joy. This is the escape in every situation and temptation, to react and act according to that which the Father has taught us, through his Son, Jesus Christ. Let us then, through His power walk, as He has walked and thereby show that we are his true disciples. Oh, may we become less, so that He will become more…
