Read Luke 6:27-28
I Hate You!
Jesus starts off with this conversation saying, “But to you who are listening I say….” We don’t usually start a conversation with these words: “If you are listening,” but Jesus did because he knew they were powerful words that would find a lot of resistance because they challenge our faith walk to do something we typically DON’T WANT TO DO!!!!
What is this challenge that finds resistance and goes against our inner core? Jesus said,
1. Love your enemies. 2. Do good to those who hate you. 3. Bless those who curse you. 4. Pray for those who mistreat you.
What are the benefits of actually doing these four things?
If I pray for someone who hates me and even despises me, it challenges my thoughts towards them. It helps me take my focus off from their behavior and on to their broken spirit in need of healing. It helps me see a lost broken person versus an evil “idiot.” It changes my attitude first and opens my heart to God so he can work his love through me and towards my enemy. Once my heart is changed then I can begin to love my enemy, bless them, and do good to them.
I’ve seen different results that have come from this approach.
1. I’ve seen an evil 18 year old boy have a completely changed heart because of how our youth group reached out and loved him in a way he probably never experienced. It opened his heart to the things of the Lord. It broke his spirit for the things of God. He thanked us for what we did.
2. I also have seen such love met with more anger and hate towards me. This person wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. It was then I resorted to praying only for the person and asking for God moments when I can show love to the individual.
Loving your enemies, doing good to them, blessing and praying for them is God’s way of bringing a transformation in our hearts first and then in the hearts of others. I realize Jesus’s challenge is hit with a lot of resistance, but to be faithful to it can result in transformed hearts, attitude, and lives.
