LOVING OUR ENEMIES

Sir,

One of the challenging commands given by Jesus is found in His sermon on the mount. Christ says; “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

Turning the other cheek refers to responding to injury without revenge and allowing more injury. Practically, God gave us an example. He was hurt in Eden by the disobedience of men and yet He sent His only begotten son to earth.

Killed

He was ridiculed, mocked, beaten and killed and God was hurt the second time.
God also gives us another cheek when He allows us to live today even though He knows that we will sin against Him tomorrow. David also turned the other cheek when he allowed his tormentor (King Saul) to live when he could have killed his tormentor, for him to hurt him again.

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly,” 1 peter 2:21.

Christ continues; “You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” Mat 5:38-45.

Enemy

Loving your enemy operates on the ‘love the sinner but hate sin’ principle.  Never allow the way people treat you cause you to maltreat them. Revenge may feel right and even seem justified, but it’s damaging to us and the people we love.

Bitterness towards others only makes your life bitter. Christ said, if your enemy hits you on the cheek then give them the other one too. If someone takes your coat then let them take your sweater too. You don’t have to fight to be a man, turn the other cheek.

God wants us to love others, even our enemies not because they are lovable but because He loves them. His gives sunlight to both evil and good and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. It’s unreasonable to love a person who has hurt you but God wants us to love such people anyway.
Loving your enemy is not approving his actions; it is proving to him that God’s love is beyond measure.

Revenge

Dear beloved, have you been wronged or wounded? Has anyone in any way hurt you such that you’re sorely tempted to retaliate or revenge? Let go!
The damage has already been done; the loss has already been incurred; the injury, insult and humiliation have already been suffered; and those painful words have already been hurled at you. Revenge cannot undo or compensate for the damage.

Don’t get even for your hurt, get beyond it by forgiving. Let God deal with the one who has hurt you, if the person doesn’t repent. Just let go!

Bopoto Gwinyai

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