“But I say to you who are listening now to Me; [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred. Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favour) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].” Lk 6:27-28 (Amp)
Jesus Christ’s teaching was very controversial to His listeners and even today has not lost that baffling edge. He was accused even by His loyal followers of giving hard commandments and none seemed harder than the above commandment, since it cuts across the grain of our human understanding or natural inclination. His goal is not necessarily the vindication of our rights, but the putting to death of self, that hardy and highly active enemy within whose solid alliance with the devil is the real reason we struggle to live holy lives in this world. I learnt some time ago that it is not what anyone does to you that matters. Your response is not only your responsibility, but is also what really matters since it is the main determinant of your spiritual maturity.
The concern some people have regarding the above command is that if you choose to love and act nobly towards an enemy who is doing his best to destroy you, isn’t that playing into his hand and won’t that turn you into a doormat for him to wipe his dirty feet on? On the surface that might be so, but the reality is that by refusing to give an eye for an eye you are doing something very important. You are refusing to conform to the degrading image the enemy has of you and are also forcing him to confront his prejudice, for that is the only reason why he would want to revile or treat you is such a bad way. Jesus enjoins us to always take the high road not necessarily because the enemy is not doing us any harm, but in order to enable God’s holy character and the accompanying power to manifest, first to confound and then convert the repentant enemy. We pray for those who curse us not because we do not have the urge to curse them back, but because we seek to please our God and in so doing hand over our detractors into God’s capable hand. This is because we realise that God’s revenge is always very sweet. If in doubt ask Apostle Paul. The early church must have prayed fervently for this dangerous pain in the neck and see how God exerted His revenge. He made his enemy into a sold-out propagator of the very message he was seeking to silence. By choosing to respond kindly to a hurt, we are able to detach ourselves from the imprisoning effect of whatever hatred the enemy might want to generate within us and are thus able to live in the freedom for which Jesus Christ has set us free.
The prophet Elisha also understood this principle; hence his advice to Israel’s king to spare the Syrian soldiers he had captured through the exercise of God’s power. Rather than slaughter these men who had wanted to kill them, the Israelites fed and treated them well and then sent them back to their undoubtedly surprised master. The result was that these love-bombed men never troubled them again. Love can warm up the coldest heart and awaken even a long-dead conscience. This is incontrovertible proof that love is the more excellent way. Walk in it and God will cause your enemies to sue for peace with you because love makes you undefeatable – indomitable.
Prayer:
Lord, by your power within me, I choose today to walk the way of love. I command my emotions to line up with your word as I surrender to your will. Help me to give a love response that will put my detractors to shame and silence them. Amen.