“You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43&44, NKJV)
PONDER THIS!
Some time ago, while riding down the street, I saw this message on a church marquee, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, YOU MADE THEM!
Initially, I laughed to myself, for the saying seemed so comical. But the more I pondered it, the more I found it required a bit of self-examination. You see we often talk about our enemies and what they are doing or have done to us, but this statement causes us to ask ourselves the question, “What have I done to make them my enemies.” “Could it be something I said or something I did that caused this person to have a problem with me.” Now true enough, some people will look at you and decided they just don’t like you. But, could it be that we might have offended or been offensive in the past that caused that individual or those persons to dislike us? And the more important question is, “What are we doing to win them back?”
1. If you do a bit of self-examination, are you the cause of someone “falling out” with you?
2. Is there someone who might have become your enemy because you didn’t handle a situation properly?
3. Have you done your best to be at peace with all people?
4. Can you honestly say that you LOVE EVEN YOUR ENEMIES?