Love Your Enemies

I'm back to blogging on the commands of Jesus - the red words in the Bible. Those who missed previous posts on this  can look back to April 17, 22, 30, and May 8, 14, 21, 28 and June 4 and 11.  

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

Matt. 5:43-47 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?

Luke 6:27 Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:35 Love your enemies, do good to them and lend them without expecting to get anything back.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Father, Teach me to love as Jesus’ loved. While I don’t have any major enemies there have been some people in my life who I didn’t like and who I avoided. We judge too quickly by appearances without getting to know people. I worked with a few people who were difficult, who misunderstood me. I liked them, but our relationship was not good, but did I pray for them? Others who annoyed me have been people who seemed like Pharisees - pretentious, condescending. Did Jesus love the Pharisees and Sadducees? This is very hard to do. Leanne Payne, a speaker I’ve heard, talks about “my beloved enemy,” those close to us who we love, but are unloving toward. Ouch! Those closest include my husband, my sisters, and my children. Help me, in all my relationships, demonstrate love. I’ve learned this year that my need to control can make me seem to be unloving and even an enemy. I give all these issues to you, Lord. Change me!

 Blessings, Dottie