“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. Matthew 5:43-48
In our life, sometimes we would have enemies at home, at work and even inside the church with our brother’s and sisters.
God’s instructions are very clear that we must love and pray for them. Easier said than done. We would say I forgive you but I would never forget what you did.
There’s reasons why we need to do it. You need to love your enemy to become true children of God Matthew 5:45 “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” it means we are not going to be his real sons if we don’t forgive and forget the sins of our enemy, if we don’t learn to love and pray for them.
We cannot expect reward from God if we love only those who loved us. We have requests and personal prayers to Him and our hatred and unforgiving hearts hinders the answer from heaven as his power works fast on a pure, healthy and kind heart not a sinful heart. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”
God expects more from us who knows him. He expected us to do more than what others do. If sinners can love the people who’re good at them only, then we are no different from them if we do the same.
Whether you like it or not, you need to start greeting your enemy today. It’s okay if they won’t respond to your smile or good morning, as long as you start doing it. You need to be the initiator of good works. And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Matthew 5:47
If we are instructed to do it to our enemy then doing this to our own family is easier. Be the first one to smile and talk to your wife or husband when you fight or argue. Loving, Praying and Greeting our enemy is the hardest thing to do for Christians but this is one of the most important doctrines of Christ for us to be his real children, to be rewarded and to be perfect. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
