Love Your Enemies?

Question of the Week: How do you pray for your enemies? How can you better love/serve them? Enemies can range from corrupt world leaders and terrorists to school bullies that pick on you and classmates/teachers who have a grudge against Christianity. Did Jesus really mean what He said about loving these people? How do we do it when they are trying to hurt us?

This is a challenging question! In fact, I have struggled with this question on and off for a while now, and I am interested to hear your thoughts on it. As for my thoughts, I am blown away by Jesus' words in Matthew 5. Love your enemies!? Be perfect!? Wow! Jesus placed a high calling on His disciples, and for us to call ourselves Christians puts us under that calling as well.

An enemy is anyone who seeks to harm you. The meaning of the Greek word used for enemy in this passage is "hateful" and "hostile." And Jesus tells us to pray for these people, to love them, and to do good to them, even though they seek to harm us.

So what does this look like? Here are a few examples I found from scripture: David Spares Saul's Life, David Spares Saul's Life Again, Stoning of Stephen, and Following Christ's Example.

Maybe a more modern day example is the one of Nate Saint, a missionary bush pilot who was tragically killed by the Waodani people in Ecuador when trying to reach out to them with the gospel. A movie titled, "End of the Spear" came out in 2006 that is based on those events. In the movie Nate is offered a gun to take along with him to defend himself should the Waodani attack, but Nate responds with something to the effect of, "These people aren't ready for heaven yet." He valued their eternal souls more than he did his own physical safety. He had the right perspective, and I think he loved His enemies exceptionally well, as Jesus commanded.

There is much more I want to share, but it can wait until later. Until then, here are some more verses to consider as you form your thoughts and answers: Proverbs 24, Proverbs 25, Romans 12, Hebrews 10.

Are you willing to be transformed? To have your worldview turned upside down?

These things could very well happen the more you ask the hard questions and dig into God's Word.