Doing the Impossible

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 5:43-45

I remember learning these verses in Bible study a long time ago. After reading it, I asked myself how can this be possible? Back then I struggled to love people who I believed were my enemies. Especially for those who were mean and have hurt me. This commandment from Jesus can be done. Back then I did not think so, but now I do because I have done it in my own life.

It is not easy to love our enemies but with God, He makes it possible. It was done in my own life with God’s patience, love, and mercy. He had to remind me to look to Jesus as an example to follow. Jesus loved people who seemed impossible to love by praying for them. He asked God to forgive them while they were nailing Him to the cross (Luke 23:33-34). Stephen is another example to follow. He loved the people who were stoning him to death by praying for God to forgive them. It is ironic because Saul, also known as the apostle Paul, was there when Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:58-60).

Doing the impossible is hard but necessary if we are true children of God. We need to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and not repay evil for evil but overcome evil by doing good (Romans 12:17-21). How people know that we are God’s children is when we love one another (John 13:35). The things we do show we have the same standard as God which is different than the world’s standard.

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

Thank you for reminding us about Your command to love our enemies. We need Your grace and patience because it is hard to do. As Jesus as our example, we pray that we will be like Him and love people who are hard to love. Loving them shows we are Your true children. Please continue to show us how to love our enemies. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!