As followers of Christ, we are called to a radical love that extends beyond natural compassion. The Old Testament tells us to care for our neighbors (Leviticus 19:18), but Jesus goes one step further: “Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27-28). This requirement is difficult because we don’t naturally want to love those who don’t have our best interests at heart. Loving our enemies demands a heart transformation, a new birth, which only Christ can provide.
Many people enjoy the sermon on loving and doing good to our foes, but putting it into practice exposes our need for both a Savior and the Holy Spirit. Christ’s teachings should guide our lives, and while we may not be able to love our enemies as much as we love our friends, we should nevertheless wish them well and treat them with care.
Jesus exemplified this love throughout His life by responding to hatred with kindness. He instructed us to bless those who had cursed us and pray for those who mistreated us. When He was wronged, He did not respond but instead showed grace and forgiveness, even praying for His executioners. We are meant to respond to wrongs with love, not hate.
Christ challenges us to go beyond the love that even sinners show to their friends.
As Christians, we are called to love unconditionally, reflecting God’s love for us. We are told not to judge people. We lack the insight and understanding to completely comprehend their situation. Instead, we should try to be charitable and see the good in people, recognizing that our perspectives may be limited.
The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” exemplifies this principle. It encourages us to treat people with the same compassion that we would like to receive while being mindful of what is truly useful and just.
In all of our encounters, let us exemplify the law of love by treating people as we would like to be treated. By doing so, we fulfill our destiny as God’s children and demonstrate to the world the transformative power of love in a world desperately in need of it. Amen.
Remain blessed.
Pastor Jerry Orhue
Senior Pastor, Gracevine Chapel
www.gracevinechapel.org
