Inimicus

 Luke 6:27-36

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

These words were spoken by The Son of God himself, Jesus Christ.  The lesson he was teaching here was basic loving your neighbour stuff.  In theory it's an easy thing to do.  Certainly I can hold the door open for another person, I can let someone cut the line, I can help someone carry something heavy, I can do do do do do do do.  But what if something becomes personal, dear to my heart, something is said or done that offends me to the very core?

What should my reaction be?

I tell you what my first response is---I want to punch the offender in the face.  Hard.  Then I want the whole world to know what that person did to me, so that others can congratulate me on only knuckling the head and nothing else.  Sometimes, I no longer want to speak, see or think of that person again.  That person is my enemy.  Is my natural response correct, justified, and tolerable?  Or what if I keep my anger to myself, allowing it to set up shop in my heart and discourage me from continuing in a relationship with that hurtful person, keeping the peace so that others aren't affected?  Are my actions speaking in love?

verse 32 screams the whole message Jesus was instructing his people with:

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

It's easy to get along with easy-to-get-along-with people. It's no sacrifice to surround yourself and keep to like-minded people.  It's safe.  It's comforting.  It's human.  Is it what The Lord commands?  Is our life supposed to be tit-for-tat, I do this for you because you do this for me and that is good?  If you want to be like the world, continuing in that fashion is what you will do.  If your heart belongs to God, these words spoken by the Messiah who gave his very life for the glory of God to ensure his people have a place with him in Eternity should drop you to your knees and cause true repentance.  

Has someone hurt you, offended you, said or done venomous evil to you?  What was your response?  What advice were you given?  Galatians 5:14 says:  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Think about that.  All the rules and regulations come down to one thing and one thing only- - - Love.


Psalm 103:9 gives a hope that whoever has accused, offended, hurt, caused unthinkable harm, will stop.  Healing will happen.  God promised this in His word. The sins will come to light, and repentance will follow.  If not, then the Holy Spirit is not at work, *but* you still need to forgive and love.  It's not up to us to punish anyone.  It is best done by the one who's motives are pure and just.  Just like a stranger has no right to correct your child, we have no right to hold a grudge against one of God's creations and try to 'fix' them ourselves.  That's what prayer is for.

If you think you are immune to the wrath of God because you believe in Jesus Christ, please read this carefully again.  Jesus warns us, clearly, many times, so that no one can say, "I didn't know."

Matthew 6:15 ESV

15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 ESV

35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

I do not normally promote other blogs, but I came across a post written by John Piper that compliments what I am saying quite nicely.  I know some of you hold Piper in a high standard, so if I have failed to get the major point across, maybe he will.

Our Mighty God is kind to the ungrateful and evil. 

Be merciful, as the King Of Heaven is merciful.