Got Enemies?

"But I tell you who hear me:  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

I'd like to think that I haven't made very many enemies in my lifetime.  I'd also like to think that I am not considered to be an enemy to someone else!  Unfortunately, when I'm honest with myself and see what Christ has to say, I know for certain that I have enemies. 

Jesus took the time in His ministry to spell out who our neighbors are whenever He was was asked by a Jewish scholar about how to inherit eternal life.  The scholar acknowledged that he already knew that we are supposed to love our neighbors, but he pressed Jesus to clarify who our neighbors are.  Jesus then teaches the parable of the good Samaritan and lets the scholar deduce that a neighbor is anyone in need.

Well, Jesus not only takes the time to define who our neighbors are, but He also very clearly tells us in Scripture who an enemy might be.  Although not prompted by a teacher of the law, He must have known that we would need some specifics!

He tells us in Luke 6:27-36 that our enemies are people who:

• Hate us
• Curse us  
• Physically injure us
• Steal from us
• Mistreat us

I'm thankful that in the course of my life, it has been on very rare occasions where I've felt hated or cursed.  It has also been rare occurrences for me to have been injured by someone else or stolen from.  However, I have been mistreated many times and I'm sure you have, too.

I've been mistreated by strangers in public, by fellow believers at church, by co-workers and classmates, and by friends and family.  I think if Jesus were to speak plainly to us, He would say:

EXPECT TO BE MISTREATED IN THIS LIFE!  EXPECT TO HAVE ENEMIES!

So when we are mistreated, how do we treat those who have treated us badly?  Well, Jesus answers that question in our focal verse and the subsequent eight verses.  He really wants to get our attention, so He begins this portion of His discourse by essentially saying:

"Hear me now!"  (that's what my Dad always says in his sermons when he's getting ready to say something really important!)

Then He tells us to: 

• Love them (v. 27)
• Do good to them (v. 27)
• Bless them (v. 28)
• Pray for them (v. 28)
• Give to them (v. 30)
• Lend your possessions to them (v. 35)
• Show mercy to them (v. 36)

I know, you're sarcastically thinking to yourself, "Is that all?"!  This concept of loving our enemies is so important to Christ's teaching that He goes above and beyond to make it very clear how we're supposed to treat someone who has mistreated us. 

Allow me to hone in on only one of the practical applications that Jesus gives us.  In verse 28, Jesus says:

". . . pray for those who mistreat you."

 

We previously acknowledged that we all have been mistreated by many people many times.  I hesitate to say that my immediate response is to pray for them.  Is it yours?   Whenever I have stopped to pray for someone who has mistreated me, what I have realized is that it is very difficult to harbor hatred and ill feelings towards someone that I am bringing before the throne.  Praying for our enemies is almost like a natural home remedy to the hostility that we might feel in our heart.

 

Christ tells us that it's easy to love our neighbors.  It's so easy that even the sinners can do it well.  The way we prove that we're different from the world is when we love those who are difficult to love.

 

Let me challenge you to take a moment right now to think of someone who you could classify as an enemy.  Will you spend some time praying for them?  Also, pray that your heart and the heart of the other person would be open to forgiveness and restoration.  In doing so, Christ will be glorified and you will be amazed how God begins to work in your relationships with those who you once considered to be enemies.