— Luke 6:35
Love your enemies. Actively do what God prefers, in His strength and power, out of obedience to Him. We Christians can do that because we experience God’s love firsthand even when we don’t deserve it. We have His Spirit in us filling us with His love to overflow to other people, even those we consider enemies.
Do good to your enemies. In our own strength, powerless and fallen, we are unable. It’s one reason why Luke reminded us we have God’s agape love in us. Agape is holy, powerful, and selfless. It does not withhold goodness from a person because of the hurt a person did. It forgives. This goodness inherently comes from God because of His power. Can’t do good things for someone? Then go to God asking for His power and love and ability to forgive.
Show the depth of love and goodness in you. Give your enemy something dear to you because they need it. God gave it to you out of love, and He is giving you His power and to love and do good even for people who’ve hurt you or other people. That’s not the greatest level of love. Loan to the person and don’t require it back or even interest on the loan, if it was cash.
Why should we love, do good for, and lend to our enemies? Because God first loved us when we were sinners. We made ourselves to be enemies of God. He didn’t hold that against us, but He gave and showed us His great love. God did and does good for us. He gives without expecting us to repay Him. Of course, we could never be able to pay Him for all He’s done for us and given us.
Why should we love our enemies? Because God loved us first, before we loved Him. Out of obedience to God, we tell, show, and live in ways that allow even our enemies to know God and receive His love.
If you’re thinking, “What’s in it for me? I keep doing and doing, but I keep being stepped on,” consider what Luke wrote at the end of this verse. “Your reward (from God) will be great and you will be children of God.” You will receive in commensurate and overflowing measure what you gave, did, or said in love for your enemies. You will be known as a child of God because of your actions, words, and gifts to those who’ve sinned against you. Should we expect anything better than what Jesus received? And yet, He loved even His persecutors so much that He asked His Father to forgive them while He Himself was on the cross. And He agonizingly died willingly for them. For us.
What’s in it for us? We get to see the “lights turn on” in the minds of our enemies as they recognize then accept God’s love. We get the privilege to experience God’s power moving us in obedience to Him. We get to be known as and called children of the Most High God by people and, most importantly, by God.
Love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting a return.
