Love Your Enemy

AM Psalm 55 • PM Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23)
Exod. 40:18-38 • 1 Thess. 4:1-12 • Matt. 5:38-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor 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 makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

It takes so much energy to love those who embrace hate, violence, and destruction. To pray for those who persecute you feels like a slap in the face to many. After all, why wish well on those who have done harm? This has been a feeling I have battled with for years and continue to do so. But as I grow with this church, with this community, I am finding it easier to love and forgive.

Loving your enemies does not mean you love what they do or support their actions. Rather, loving your enemies means seeing the humanity in them and hoping they will see the humanity in others. That by viewing your actions and deeds, they will adopt those practices and learn to love. It’s realizing that despite what we all do, we are all worthy of love, forgiveness, and happiness. The teachings of God are meant to bring us back on the right path and to extend His love to all. And we can look to our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured hardships, pain, and death, for guidance and understanding when it comes to loving our enemies.

I ask you to walk alongside me, unlearn the ways we’ve seen different parts of our world, and embrace love and compassion for all peoples in hopes of their turn towards compassion and an end to violence and hatred in this life.

Written by Danica Hawthorne

...who seeks to promote love, compassion, and community through volunteering and running for office.