But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35 NABRE
Luke is writing about Jesus’ teaching. Jesus has taken His disciples aside and speaks to them as their teacher. He teaches about what will make then happy. Then he begins to speak about love. Loving others will make them happy. Jesus makes s difficult request. We read we are to love our enemies and do good to them. Lend expecting nothing in return. If we do these things our reward from God will be great. In fact do these things and we will be like God, because God does these very things Himself. A teaching like this is hard for us to accept. We have this innate sense of fairness that stops us from letting someone who has taken advantage of us ever do it again. But Jesus says, let them do it again. When you lend don’t expect repayment. We would rather keep enemies at arm’s length, never trusting them and certainly never liking them; let alone loving them as Jesus asks.
What happens when we put up these walls to keep people out. What do we feel when we have animosity toward someone who we think has cheated us or hurt us in some way. These feelings of intense passionate dislike for someone actually destroys our happiness. Having an enemy that we hate is giving them control over our mood. They are able to bring us down without ever saying a word and without knowing. We are hanging on to ill will over something that happened in the past. Jesus’ teaching on love is for us to be joyful. Forget about what is owed you. Forget about what is fair. Find a way to love and live a joyful life. It is a teaching that is good for you.
Can you love an enemy? Can you start by praying for them?
Having an enemy that we hate is giving them control over our mood. They are able to bring us down without ever saying a word and without knowing. Love your enemy and have a happy life. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion #forget#love #enemy #Luke #everybodyalways#god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer#goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat#bocaraton #youversion #everythingalways