Love Your Neighbor by Jennifer Tiszai  

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. Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)

Jesus was the original radical.  His ideas of love were completely different than what was being taught in the temple.  After all, it sounds quite reasonable to love your neighbors and hate your enemy.  But to love your enemy?  To pray for those who persecute you?  Why would we want to do that?  Why would we want to do good to those who have hurt us?

This is one of Jesus’ toughest commandments.  When someone has hurt me I want them to hurt as well.  Maybe I’m “mature” enough to know that I shouldn’t hurt them back, but can’t I pray for God to teach them a lesson?  Why should I love and pray for them?

Mostly the reason has to do with me.  Jesus wants to change my heart and make it more like His. When I do the toughest thing by loving the unlovable, I am putting myself and my desires aside and letting Jesus and His love shine through.  Luke 6:35 says that when you love your enemies, “ your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”

Secondly, when we demonstrate Jesus’ radical love, others will take notice. Loving those who hurt us is a powerful witness. It demonstrates the power of Jesus Christ and His ability to heal.  Romans 12:20 says that when we do good to our enemies we can bring about his repentance.  Doing good can bring them to Christ.

Jesus knew that this was an impossible commandment for us to do on our own strength.  That’s why he wants us to do it: to acknowledge that we can’t do this without His strength.  There are some people that we need to pray daily or even hourly for God’s help to love.  We need to draw on His strength.

Who has hurt you in your life?  Who is unlovable?  Who do you have a hard time praying for?  Write these names down and claim Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”  Use Christ’s strength to love these people in a radical way and to make your heart more like Christ’s.