Love Your Enemies

Do we love our enemy after he harms us, before he harms us, or when he is harming us? Those are our only three choices. All of them are correct answers. That which is common is that we love our enemy.

“It ain’t natural!” True, but it is spiritual.
“I cannot do it!” True again, but God can.
“I haven’t gotten to loving my neighbor yet.”
“I haven’t gotten to loving my brother, how do you expect me to love my enemies?”

Jesus commanded us to love our 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. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 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. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36

This is the paragraph where the Golden Rule appears. We like the Golden Rule. Notice the context in which it appears.

This teaching is for Christians. It is completely impossible for people who do not know the Father.

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Roots by the River

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