Matthew 5:38-48
Verse 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Forgiveness often takes a back seat to revenge in our minds. Sure, we may not act on it but we can’t deny thoughts we allow to run through our heads about how we can get back at the people who have hurt us. It is easier to think about the hurt done to us than the person behind the hurt. If we are honest with ourselves we will admit the thoughts of revenge we have, don’t give any true thoughts to the person we are upset with.
The fact that we are thinking about revenge is actually showing who holds our hearts, and sadly it is ourselves. Revenge would only be beneficial for us, causing us to feel better. It wouldn’t be about living for Christ but rather living for self. Revenge isn’t about making Christ known but us making a statement which would having people taking notice of us.
Jesus’ call to love our enemies is really a call to stop looking at ourselves. To hold out from forgiving is saying we think we are more important than others. Replaying the hurt over and over again allows us to remind ourselves how much someone did us wrong, allowing us to set ourselves back in a high place in our own thoughts.
Loving our enemies is not something we can do on our own, it requires the supernatural love we only have through the love of Christ. It is through loving Him that we are able to love others, especially those we don’t like. Jesus was also proving it was about peacemaking not peacekeeping as He told us to love our enemies not make them our friends. It isn’t about forgiving to be friends, although He may not be opposed with that depending on the circumstances.
Loving our enemies through forgiveness isn’t about giving them a pass for what they did to us, it’s about loving the Lord so much we are willing to put others ahead of ourselves and love in the same way He did. While we may not need to die physically for them, we have to die to self, leaving behind what was done to us so we can move forward making sure we don’t do the same kinds of things to others.
Making It Personal
What hurts do you focus on that should be released? How can you show love to your enemies? Who has shown you love when you didn’t deserve it?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some ways you can show love to people you don’t like? Who has shown you love when you didn’t deserve it? How can knowing Jesus help you know how to love others?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for dying for us even while we were still sinners. Give us hearts which lovingly forgive those we see as enemies. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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