Scripture to Read: Luke 6:27–28
Jesus began to lay out how to handle personal relationships. Most people, then and now, treat others the way they have been treated. But God had Luke record what Jesus said we must do, as we read Luke 6:27–28, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” This is absolutely counter to the culture and also counter to our fleshly desires. Jesus wants us to live just like Him; therefore, we will love our enemies. To love has nothing to do with how we feel, but it is an act of our will. We choose to love or we choose to hate. Jesus said that we must choose to love and we must choose to do good to those who hate us. That kind of love is only possible through our relationship with Christ our Lord. The good news, according to Romans 5:5, is that “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” So, we have the love we need to love others; we just have to follow through. Jesus also said to bless those who curse us and to pray for them. God tells us this in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Living for Christ looks different.
Challenge & Application
How have you been loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you?
How have your responses toward others changed, and how has this affected your prayer life?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!