Time with God - May. 9, 2011
You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Love your enemies!
The Sermon on the Mount is not comfortable reading, is it? But it expresses the heart of the Lord Jesus’ way of life.
When you are with gentle, generous, loving people, it is easy to be good-hearted, loving, warm and magnanimous. There is nothing supernatural or godly about that. But the Lord is reminding you today that people will immediately sit up and take notice of a person who loves their enemies and prays for those who mistreat him.
You can’t live that way on your own strength. That is why it is so important for you to maintain your relationship with the Lord. Then His life will flow through you.
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