Love Your Enemies

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The command to love was extended to include the enemy. Why? God is love. God sent His very own Son to the world to suffer and die for sinners. Jesus, while hanging on the cross, asked the Father to forgive those who assaulted and crucified Him. This is the God who makes His Son rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

This is God, but why should we love our enemy? We are children of God made in His image and likeness. He is a holy God and His true offspring are also holy. We are brothers of Jesus who follow in His footsteps. What would distinguish us if not love?

Jesus says, "For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?"

So, we are not only to not offer any personal resistance to one who is evil, but we are to love our enemies. When we do, then, we are acting in the way of God. Then we are able to witness to an antagonistic pagan world. Then we can grow in the very holiness of God.

Now, not offering any resistance to who one who is evil does not mean doing anything and just letting evil run rampant. Jesus did not just do nothing even if He could have called upon a legion of angels. He willingly went to the cross and won for us our salvation. He did offer resistance to evil but in a very radical way, not resorting to violence, retaliation or hatred.

We should not tolerate evil. However, we fight evil by conquering it with good. As Paul said, "do not repay anyone evil for evil, be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all."

What is noble is what is of God. Besides, it is only love that can turn the hearts of people, people who are themselves children of God. God loved us even when we were His enemies, even when we were the ones who sent Jesus to the cross because of our sins.

You want to get back at your enemy and put him in his proper place? Then, love him! Offer no resistance to one who is evil. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.