| “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies …” |
| —Luke 6:27 |
The hardest words I have ever read in the Bible are these very words of Jesus, recorded in Luke 6:27-31:
“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. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
My natural human response forces me to declare:
“No! I don’t want to love my enemies! I want to destroy them!”
Now, please understand, I don’t go around making enemies. At least, I don’t intend to do so. In fact, I have often said:
“I have not made someone my enemy. Rather, someone has chosen to make himself or herself my enemy.
In other words, I don’t make the first move to label someone my enemy. But, over the years, any number of people have chosen to make themselves my enemy. They are the ones who initiate the enemy label. But, that doesn’t free me from Jesus’ words. And, it doesn’t free you from them either. If we are followers of Jesus—His “Christ’s-ones” or Christians—then these words apply to all of us.
As we begin a new day, we need to determine to apply this important teaching of our Lord and Savior. I confess that I find it very hard. But, it’s a requirement for true disciples. What else can I say?
