The highest form of love is shaped like a Cross. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Not only did God love you while you were His enemy, He expects you to do the same towards your enemies.
The wisdom of men will tickle your ears, but the words of Christ will kick you in the stomach. Jesus taught, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Revelation of the heart
Nothing reveals the heart of a saint with greater clarity than their enemies.
It will be in your ability to love the unlovable where the power of His love can be found in you. The Lord Jesus taught, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32).
The greater your love for your enemies, the greater Christ reigns in you.
If we are not different from the world, then we are not living by His kingdom principles.
The greatest test of our love to Christ is how we treat others that hate us. The Lord Jesus taught, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).
It is easy to be Spirit led until someone gets under your skin. It is with the people that treat us the worst where we find the degree to which Christ has changed us.
Just as you can find a reason to hate, you can find a reason to love. What you do reveals whether Christ is in you. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).
You are not defined by what people say about you, but what you say about them.
I can always tell the degree that Christ reigns in a saint by the way they speak to someone they disagree with. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
The test of our faith is not in arguing what we believe, but in living it.
Changing of the heart
Do not focus on the person against you, but the deficiency it reveals within you.
Every difficult person in your life reveals which fruit of the Spirit has not yet ripened in your life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Difficult people are the mirrors in which the Lord reveals your heart to you.
Pray blessings on those who are against you. It is not meant to change them, but you. The Lord Jesus taught us, “bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).
You cannot make a friend being the enemy.
Love builds bridges and gentleness paves the way. “…live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).
It is hard to be mad at people when you are praying for them.
Prevailing over your enemies
Don’t be surprised that your enemies hate you, but let your enemies be surprised that you love them.
The greatest way to prevail over your enemies is to love them.
When you love your enemies, you remove the hold they have on you, which is your anger towards them. Jesus commands us, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
Love is to hate what light is to darkness. There is no defense against love.
The ultimate counterattack is to love your enemy.
Bless and love on the most unlovable person you know. Open the door of your heart wide towards them. It is through this door that God will then pour His blessings into you.
To be related to the Father you need to show some of His characteristics. Jesus said, “…love your enemies…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven… (Matthew 5:44-45).
Blessings to you,
Paul
All Scripture is in red and uses the NKJV (New King James Version) translation unless otherwise noted.