Loving our Enemies – Luke 6:27-36
A growing trend called ‘tribalism’ in society sees people affirmed in their ways of thinking by like-minded people – mainly via social media – and becoming enemies of one another.
We would be naïve to think that God’s people and his church are immune from the tendency to tribalism. Conflict between like-minded groups has often existed in the church.
How easy it is for us to treat others – even our brothers and sisters in Christ – as enemies because they think differently from us.
There may be genuine Biblical reasons why people are – and need to be – opposed to something that others are saying or doing, but that should never make them our enemies.
So, what do we do when people treat us as enemies, or when we are inclined to think that way about others?
Jesus said: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31)
These words may be hard to hear because our sinful natures get in the way, and we struggle to love others the way Jesus tells us to. If it were up to us alone, Jesus’ words become an impossible ‘ask’.
Thankfully there is more to this story: about a God who opened his heart to us in Jesus. Jesus tells us that ‘the Most High’ God ‘is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Your Father is merciful’ (Luke 6:35-36).
The Lenten journey will again remind us how Jesus truly did love those whom sin had made his ‘enemies’ (that is all of us!). He mercifully did good to those who hated him, prayed for those who ill-treated him, gave freely to those who asked him, and was kind to the ungrateful and wicked. His acts of love reached their climax with his death on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead.
Jesus did this so we may draw near to him, so that, as we reflect on how much we struggle to love others, we may put our trust in the one who has loved us perfectly, and we may come to know his constant forgiveness for our failures and daily receive the ‘new heart’ he alone can give us.
In the great kindness and mercy of our loving Saviour, and in his gift of a ‘new heart’ toward God and others, now the once-impossible commands of Jesus become possible.
Our ‘new heart’ in Jesus and the power of his Spirit within us lead us away from hatred and tribalism. They move us not to consider others as our enemies. And if they think of us as their enemies, the love of Christ compels us to truly love them as he has loved us, doing good to those who hate us, praying for those who ill-treat us, giving to those who ask of us, and being kind even to the ungrateful and wicked.
Prayer:
Most High and merciful Lord, lead us to a greater understanding of your unending kindness and mercy toward us, in Jesus. When sin gets in the way and we struggle to love others, help us to open our hearts to you, as you have opened your heart to us in Jesus. Help us to know your forgiveness for our failure to love, and your power to lead us to truly love others as you have loved us. We ask this in the name of our ever-loving Saviour. Amen.
