We are going thru a series on The Sermon on The Mount at church. A few weeks ago, it was titled Radical Love.
Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)
This IS a radical LOVE…. Love our enemies? Love those who have hurts us? Love those who you don’t like? Love those who are demanding of your things, time, money? YES and so much more.
HOW can we have this radical LOVE? It is a super-natural love – given to us by God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)
Also, in Matthew, we see that love is an action…. giving, loving, praying, greeting your enemies. There are so many good things we can do for them.
Why should we love our enemies? 1st God commanded us to LOVE.
\WE were once enemies of God too….
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (ESV)Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,(ESV) Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
So in loving our enemies, we need to be in the midst of them. We can’t be hiding away not to be seen. In my life and desire to design faith-based Digital Scrapbooking kits – I see some possible persecution from proclaiming God’s Word. I have been at a Christian store before, I have even been praying about starting one. But I would be isolated from the world. How can I share God’s love to the world, if I am not in the world?
I NEED to BLOOM where I am PLANTED!!! I pray that you also are following God’s commands!
