April 25, 2016

PPIL
Matthew 5:44 NKJV - "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."

Commentary:

I've been spending time teaching the commandment to "love your neighbor as you love yourself."  In today's Daily Verse Jesus makes it clear just how far reaching this love is to be extended!  Loving those who love you is readily enjoyable because the love you receive from your loved ones is easily reciprocated.  But, note in Matthew 5:46 that Jesus doesn't necessarily commend our love for those who love us if we are not willing to love those who don't love us!

Loving your enemy is practicing what God did.  At the cross He sent His Son to die for a world that hated Him.  God knew that the only way an unsaved person who hated Him would ever come to love Him is that they would have to see that in the midst of their doing their worst to Him He was doing His best for them!  Are you and I willing to go to that extreme to show love for our enemy? 

God also showed His love for His enemies by blessing them with their daily needs of sunshine and rain, the basic elements for human existence, see Matthew 5:45.  People need blessings as well as kindness and prayers.  Those three things are what Jesus said we should do to show love for our enemies. 

Seek your enemy's welfare - "bless them."  Find ways you can meet your enemy's needs - "do good to them."  Lift them up to God in prayer for Him to show His salvation-love for them - "pray for them."  Would you be willing to "love your enemy" right into the arms of God?