Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus closes out Matthew chapter 5 with one of the most difficult commands—to love our enemies. It is when we show love to those who spitefully use us that we truly reflect our Father. Is that not exactly what Jesus did for us? While we were still His enemies, He died for us.
It is when we do more than what is expected that we allow the Father to shine through us. After all, we are here to reflect Him—and how can we do that if we look and act just like everyone else?
We are called to continue the mission of Jesus, which is to reconcile those who are estranged from God—those who are, in fact, His “enemies”—back to Him. That reconciliation will only happen if people can see the love of God shining through us.
Don’t misunderstand this: love is not wishy-washy. Jesus fully loved us, yet He also fully told the truth. In fact, telling the truth is love. Unfortunately, those who have no intention of changing often perceive truth as judgment. In a sense, it is—because the truth they hear and choose to ignore will be the very truth that judges them in the end.
We may not like what others tell us, but we should always look for the grain of truth in it.
As the psalmist writes in Psalm 141:5:
“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.”
We are called to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. He loves His enemies—and so should we. Try praying for your enemies; it is hard to hate those you pray for.
It is when we do more than what is expected that we allow the Father to shine through us. After all, we are here to reflect Him—and how can we do that if we look and act just like everyone else?
We are called to continue the mission of Jesus, which is to reconcile those who are estranged from God—those who are, in fact, His “enemies”—back to Him. That reconciliation will only happen if people can see the love of God shining through us.
Don’t misunderstand this: love is not wishy-washy. Jesus fully loved us, yet He also fully told the truth. In fact, telling the truth is love. Unfortunately, those who have no intention of changing often perceive truth as judgment. In a sense, it is—because the truth they hear and choose to ignore will be the very truth that judges them in the end.
We may not like what others tell us, but we should always look for the grain of truth in it.
As the psalmist writes in Psalm 141:5:
“Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.”
We are called to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. He loves His enemies—and so should we. Try praying for your enemies; it is hard to hate those you pray for.
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Matthew 4:3-11John 1:32-34John 1:45-51John 2:6-11John 2:13-17John 2:18-25John 3:13-17John 3:18-21John 3:27-32, 36John 4:3-10John 4:11-15John 4:16-21John 4:22-26John 4:27-30John 4:31-38John 4:39-42John 4:46-53Mark 1:21-28Matthew 5:1-6Matthew 5:7-12Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:17-20Matthew 5:21-26Matthew 5:27-30Matthew 5:31-32
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