Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
We all know the phrase "love your enemies" but functionally, we hate them. Who are your enemies? Probably the person who popped into your mind when you read the phrase "love your enemies" and thought, "I could never love them". The person who you are trying to justify why this doesn't apply to them. The person who you can't imagine becoming a christian, and probably don't want to become a christian.
What does it mean to love our enemies? We are told in the OT to love our neighbour (everyone) as ourselves. Our concern for our neighbour, including our enemy should be the same concern that we have for ourselves.
"you are to have that same totally consuming
unfeigned, fervent, habitual, permanent love which brings into your
heart their interest, their needs, their wants, their desires, their
hopes, their ambitions, and prompts you to do everything you can to make
sure that all their welfare, safety, comfort, and interest is met and
that whatever they need and whatever they want or whatever pleasure they
have, you are anxious to fulfill on their behalf." MacArthur
It is a high expectation. We are to pray *for* our persecutors, not against them! This does not mean accepting sin, it does not mean leaving crimes unreported etc - but this is on a personal level. We are to love the person.
This is only possible through the Holy Spirit. It is only possible through God's working in us. It is only possible because Jesus loved his enemy - me - enough to go to the cross, taking my sin and giving me his righteousness.
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