Let’s hear the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 5:43-44, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”  It is the desire of the Lord that we show His love to all people, even to those who hate us, use us, and persecute us for our testimony’s sake.  The Lord, who can control our hearts, wants us to LOVE our enemies with true love.  It’s not that we should ACT like we love our enemies, but the Lord wants us to LOVE them.  How can we do this?  It is because, as believers, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5).

We are instructed to LOVE, BLESS, DO GOOD, and PRAY.  We need to remember that at one time, we probably had someone praying for us, even though we treated them unfairly.  We probably had someone show love to us when we considered them our enemies.  It is the way of the Lord for His people to show His love to all…especially to those who in a state of rejection of Him.  They need to see what Christian love looks like.  They need to experience undeserved love.  They need to know someone is praying for them.  It may be through our efforts that the Lord will bring this person to salvation. 

It is so un-Christlike to pray evil against those we consider our enemies.  Ezekiel 33:11 tells us, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways…”  We read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  So…instead of praying against them, we should be sharing the Gospel with our enemies.  The Lord wants them to turn from their wicked ways.  He wants them to repent of their sins and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Perhaps the Lord wants to use you to reach the very ones that treat you terribly.  What a testimony of faith when we can share the good news of God’s grace to those who mistreat us.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:19-20).  I believe it is evident, from the whole connection of the lesson here, that the heaping of the coals of fire upon the head of the enemy is intended to produce not an evil, but the most beneficial effect.  I believe it is to bring conviction to the evil one, when he is treated with love even though he acts in hatred.  Verse 21 is an additional proof of this.  “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

May the Lord give us pure hearts to desire good for those who mean us harm.  May we look past their actions and see their needs.  May we have a true concern for their eternal state and seek to share the Gospel of Christ with them.  After all, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).  If you know Christ as your savior, you have been sent into the world to preach the Gospel to all…even those who might be your enemies.  Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (CC)  (682.6)