Joel M Bradshaw

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children 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.46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.–Matthew 5

1. People in Jesus’ day felt justified in hating their enemies and only loving those they wanted to love.
2. Jesus flipped the script. His followers are to love their enemies and even pray for them when they are mistreated.
3. In doing so, they are like toddlers mimicking Daddy. God sends blessing even on people who actively oppose Him. So why not you with the enemies in your life?
4. Jesus was calling his followers to be different than the world, not the same. The world already loves and hates who it chooses. Just look at your divided social media or on the news. My goodness.
5. If you spew hatred towards your enemies rather than prayerful love, you are not following Jesus.
6. Think of verse 48 as your goal. You want to be like God as much as possible. No excuses.
7. The world is full of divisive hate right now. Christians should be different. Are you? Love your enemies and pray for those you disagree with most. Our world needs that!–JMB