Love, Bless, Do Good and Pray for...

"You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall love your neighbor
And hate your enemy.’
But I say to you...

Love your enemies.

Bless those who curse you.

Do good to those who hate you.

Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

That you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
For He makes His sun rise on the evil
And on the good.
He sends rain on the just
And on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you,
What reward have you?
Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
What do you do more than others?
Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Therefore you shall be perfect,
Just as your Father in heaven is perfect." [1]

The two great commandments on which our Lord said hangs all others is to love God and to love our neighbor. We must live to love God and people. We must pray that the wrongs others commit against us will not cause us to stop loving, blessing, doing good and praying for them.

Prior to His words about loving our enemies, Jesus described some scenarios that His listeners might experience...

"Whoever slaps you on your right cheek,
Turn the other to him also.
If anyone wants to sue you
And take away your tunic,
Let him have your cloak also.
And whoever compels you to go one mile,
Go with him two." [2]

Why? Because the value of love is great!

I saw this kind of love demonstrated in China by Christians.

One reported of how his father, a pianist and surgeon, had piano wire tied around his fingers and connected to a ceiling fan. The ceiling fan was turned on to the destruction of his skillful fingers.

A brother was stabbed in the buttocks with a pitchfork repeatedly while his torturers yelled at him to chant, "Long live Chairman Mao."

A young medical doctor in a cancer ward was warned not to share her faith in Jesus Christ with her dying patients. She was sent to re-education camp for two years. Love compelled her to share.

A sister was told she must terminate her unborn child. She was not given permission by the state to become pregnant. Except for the grace of God that baby would have been terminated. The Lord made a way for her baby to be born and for her to leave her country.

By the grace of God, the cruel treatment of these "enemies" did not steal faith, hope and love from the hearts of these Christians. They were able to forgive those who wanted to cancel them. They knew that the King of Love will someday cancel the culture of hatred and lies. In the meantime, their mission was to love and to win people to their Savior Jesus Christ. What an impact they made on my life and on the lives of those around them. Amidst so much hatred and pain, they promoted love, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

"Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to love, bless, do good and pray for people. Thank You Lord Jesus for demonstrating love and forgiveness for enemies while on the cross. By Your grace and Holy Spirit, we love, bless, do good and pray for our enemies."

[1] Matthew 5:43-48
[2] Matthew 5:39-41