Description
Loving Your Enemies: The Way of the Cross
In this episode, we reflect on Matthew 5:43-44, where Jesus teaches us to lov… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Jesus’s yoke is easy and his burden is light, but it’s still a yoke. We are still required to go in a particular direction. Like these verses today, Matthew chapter 5, 43 to 44. "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Jesus was so counter cultural. We aren’t to seek revenge against those who offend us, those who’ve wronged us. Instead, We are to love them. We’re to pray for them.
We’re to pray for those people who are persecuting us, who are saying, you’re foolish, you Christians, you’ve got it all wrong. We’re to pray for those who would physically harm us.
This is astonishing. Who can do this? Who is equal to this?
But this is the way of the Cross, and this is the way of love. Jesus showed us the way. He said, when he’s going to the cross, "Father forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing."
That is the example that he sets us, and it is difficult to follow this example, and he knew that. He knew it would be hard for us. But he still asks that of us because it is important. Because it changes our hearts. Because it conforms us more to his likeness.
Of our enemies, we should be saying, in our own hearts and minds, I want that person to come to know Jesus, to be saved. I want that person with me in the Kingdom of God.
I hope, if you’re a Christian, you didn’t become a Christian thinking you were going to have an easy life. Our Father God loves us, and He trains us as His children. He wants to grow and shape our character. He wants us to exercise true, unconditional love, like the kind he’s shown to us.
Father, I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to comply with this saying of Jesus, but I know that you are helping me. Please continue to help us all to love those people who come against us. You are changing us into the likeness of Jesus, and He showed us the way to do this. Please will you help us to follow His example? Amen.
