But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

 

Can you name a few enemies in your life? Maybe they are people who live next to you, work beside you, are related to you, maybe they even live in the same house as you. If you go through life, you’ll find out pretty quick, there are people who oppose and aren’t happy with your existence. Although you might not have truly done anything to stir this hate, the truth is they probably have issues within themselves that make them so hateful.

 

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sin. 1 Peter 4:8

 

Today’s verse gives a clear message how we are to respond to hateful people. First off, love them. Sounds like a tall order, but with love comes grace and mercy. Jesus was the perfect example of this love, as He was dying on the cross, He said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. This deep hearted compassion for those who put Him there came at a cost, His life. As a child of God, your life should be a reflection of that love that shows no end to grace and mercy.

 

Secondly, pray for them. They need prayer, they need Jesus to intervene in their life. Although uncomfortable to have this hateful person in your life, God might have placed them there for you to pray and be a witness to them. So start today by praying for that person, asking God to intervene in their life. Ask Him to help you show the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, so the door is open to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated ME before it hated you. John 15:18

 

If you are living the Christian life, you can expect others to hate you. Your ways are different than theirs and they find it difficult to understand you, and that’s ok. Just keep showing them the love of Jesus Christ and let God do a work in the life of those outside the faith! God bless!