Jesus' Command to "Love Your Enemies"..........How is this even possible?
Christian or not, most have heard the command of Jesus to "love our enemies" as found in Matthew 5:44. Call it a" lightbulb" moment for me but I was lying in bed this morning and a passage of Scripture helped me to better understand this in a greater depth.
Understandably, we know that the Spirit of God empowers us to walk in accordance with Jesus Christ's commands and teachings. The Word says that "the Spirit will lead and guide us into all Truth".... So what truth can we glean from this thought provoking teaching of "loving your enemies"?
Yesterday, I wrote a blog on the 23rd Psalm and the peaceful presence we feel as the Lord "maketh us to lie down in green pastures" and the comfort that comes from that experience. If you missed reading that blog, then here is that link if you decide to read it later...
https://steemit.com/christianity/@breakingtonight/he-maketh-me-to-lie-down-in-green-pastures
After I wrote that blog, I couldn't help but find myself meditating on the 23rd Psalm and then, at least for me, the part about "loving your enemies" from Matthew 5:44 made sense! It's like the dots connected in a way I had never seen before.
Psalm 23 says that "the Lord prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies".........Yes, even in the presence of our enemies! The "table" reference implies that the Lord provides a feast, a grace, a place of blessings and abundance.....In other words, all of the necessary provisions.
So when Jesus Commands us to "love our enemies" and to "do good" to those who haven't done good to us, we now have the grace and the provision to actually carry out that command in a empowered way. Obviously, in the natural, this goes against the grain and certainly goes against human nature in every way possible. But when Christ empowers us and "prepareth a table before us in the presence of our enemies", then I believe that loving our enemies becomes much more possible.
Friends, the teachings of Christ are profound and often lack human understanding. But when we can connect to the divine realm through his Spirit and through His Word, the Bible..... All things become possible!
I hope these words have been encouraging to you! Please feel free to upvote, follow, resteem and/or comment below.
Blessings!
Thank you for sharing :-)
Be Blessed.
You're welcome and may God bless you!
Very nice.
When I think of all the places the Lord commands us to love our enemies, I try to think of the ways He shows us what He means by His actions. He gave up equality with the Father to save us, He offered up His own life for us even though He could have escaped, He healed the man who came to arrest Him after Peter cut His ear off, and he prayed for the forgiveness of the men who were killing Him even as He hung on a cross.
The love He talks about isn't some feeling we have, as if we could have the same feelings for an enemy as we do for our parents or wife. He's talking about action. He showed love by serving others.
God bless.
@garthfreeman
Well said, my friend! Jesus' love is so sacrificial and a perfect example to us as His children! I appreciate your thoughts and for commenting!
I think an important part of loving our enemies is trying to see things from their perspective. If we can put ourselves in another's place, it will be easier for us to sympathize with whatever is motivating their actions against us.
I completely agree and you make a very good point there!
PS: UV and RS :-)) God keep you always
Well done :D
Thank you! :)
bless you more @breakingtonight. Thank you for sharing the word of God. :-))
Love your enemies and don't hold grudge. We are not perfect human, but we can change things for the better. ;-)
Thank you! I'll say amen to that....Blessings to you!
my pleasure ;-)) thank you as well . Make your day interesting and special @breakingtonight <3
You too! :)
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