Matthew 5:44-45 … betraying Jesus (08/10/13)
It is wise to remember to stick by your Friends no matter what …
… and it is even more so to remember that your enemies are actually your most important Friends.
But don’t just take my word for it … Listen to the following:
“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” ~ Abraham Lincoln
“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with Love.” ~ M. Gandhi
“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that Love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your Love they will break down under the load. That’s Love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says to Love. There’s something about Love that builds up and is creative … So Love your enemies.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Bible tells us to Love our neighbors, and also to Love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” ~ G. K. Chesterton
“Hate is your enemy; you must defeat it! Anger is your enemy; you must defeat it! Violence is your enemy; you must defeat it! … Know well your real enemies!” ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become children of your Father who is in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on both the evil and the good, and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:44-45)
Jesus really wasn’t kidding around when he made that last statement, and he didn’t make it merely because it sounded nice. He made it because it WORKS … He made it because it is The Way.
Ignore Jesus’ call to Love the “unlovable” if you wish, and yet know that every time you do so, you deny him the same way Peter denied him — and that deep within you will feel the same sorrow.
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