How can I love my enemies? Is it even possible?
This is the wrong question!
The real question is: How can I be more like Jesus? In all of His encounters with people, He always did what was best for others.
We think of love as a feeling. And it is! But...
Love Is An Action
But love is also a verb -- an action word. Sometimes, we need to not only feel love toward people, but we also have to act like we love them. Sometimes, we just have to forgive and do what's best for others.
I believe that God is always working in everybody's life to bring them closer to Him. As a good Parent, sometimes that means nice things for us, but sometimes it can mean difficult things.
This is also what we need to do for others. For example, sometimes we need to enact some tough love as a parent with our children.
Related Post: How to Have Grace in Your Relationships
Love Means Doing What's Best For Others
Part of loving others means we have to do what is good for people who do wrong to us. We have to forgive them and do what's best for them.
Doing what’s best for someone looks different for different people. Sometimes, it means turning the other cheek. Or, when they ask for our coat, we give them our shirts, too. Doing what’s best for someone can mean turning people into the police. Sometimes, it can mean forgiving them but also never having anything more to do with them.
Sounds difficult, right? It is! That’s why we need God’s grace.
Grace helps us to act out of love and not out of bitterness or revenge. We have to act like our heavenly Father, Who does what is best for each one of us.
Forgive and trust God with the justice. Surrender to God and let Him do what is best for us all!
Related Post: 5 Truths About Loving Difficult People
Why Should We Love our Enemies?
Sometimes the thought of loving your enemies can cause a lot of traffic in our minds. Can you actually “Love your enemies as yourself?” To us, they may not seem worthy of love, honor, or kindness. But, when we choose to love our enemies, we’re loving like Jesus would love.
In some cases, loving our enemies looks like justice, but the majority of the time it looks like praying for them as you would pray for yourself. Pray that your enemies have food, clothing, and shelter, and that all their needs will be met. Pray that your enemies will encounter God, experience His love, and know Him as the healer.
Pray that God would heal the wounds in their heart. We’ve all heard the phrase “hurt people hurt people,” but when we pray for our enemies from afar, we are inviting God into their story.
Bible Verses About Loving Your Enemy
If you’re wondering where in the scriptures Jesus says to love your enemies, we’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favorite Bible verses on loving your enemies:
Matthew 5:44 ESV | But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Following in the footsteps of Jesus is the goal of each Christian, which in essence means, “little Christs” or “little anointed ones.” We may not be perfect in our effort to love our enemies, but it’s following Him that matters.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6: 27-28
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:9
Choosing to turn the other cheek rather than engage in anger towards our enemies is a challenge. As we follow in the ways of Jesus, we don’t choose compassion in our own strength. Rather, we choose compassion because of His strength is made perfect in us
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. - Romans 12: 17-19
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. - 1 Timothy 2:1-2
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