Love Your Enemies
Christian Faith and Practice in the Secular Age
We want to be clear. Those entangled in the nets of the poachers in this “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4) are never written off until such poor souls refuse the liberty offered by the resurrected Christ. For some who curse Christ today will confess Him tomorrow. Others who impugn His name will preach His grace.
Trophies of Grace
We must always remember that there are Pauls, Augustines, and John Newtons among us. The grace of God is of infinitely greater force than the supposed power to resist. Deep in the undisclosed mysteries of Providence God’s love shall overwhelm the most notorious enemy of Christ and the Church. This is at least one reason that why we love our enemies: they are soon to become brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers in the Lord. Remember that God loved you while you were still defiant or disinterested in the One who made you. Ultimately the grace received comoelks us to pray with expectation for even those who would persecute us for the name of the Lord Jesus. For all of us the invitation remains:
The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come,’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:20).
The Verse That Guides Us
Here is the testimony of Matthew the Tax Collector (viz., a corruption-laden traitor) transformed by Jesus into the Apostle and Gospel writer:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
I write about the biblical meaning of Jesus’ command to love our enemies (enemies of God and those who worship Him) in this study published by Crosswalk and Christianity.com. How I pray in Christ’s name through the agency of the Holy Spirit that the Word from Another World will encourage you in yours.
