Love Your Enemies


I'm writing this on a day that has been set aside in our country to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. He certainly holds a special place in the history of our country and many are taking time today to think about his leadership and his words.

I wanted to connect today to his work as a pastor and preacher, so, I looked up a message he preached in November of 1957. In a review of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5, he preached about loving one's enemies,
"Certainly these are great words, words lifted to cosmic proportions. And over the centuries, many persons have argued that this is an extremely difficult command. Many would go so far as to say that it just isn’t possible to move out into the actual practice of this glorious command. They would go on to say that this is just additional proof that Jesus was an impractical idealist who never quite came down to earth. So the arguments abound. But far from being an impractical idealist, Jesus has become the practical realist. The words of this text glitter in our eyes with a new urgency. Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this command is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. Yes, it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies."

King was quoting this passage:

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, 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. 
-Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

This is a hard-to-live-out teaching, no doubt. One wonders, well, just WHO is my enemy and, once I figure that out, HOW do I love them well - in the way Jesus asks me?

This can only happen through praying for those who are against us and seeking to love with sincerity - regardless of who that enemy turns out to be.

Paul spoke of the greatness of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and Jesus would say over and over that if you and I loved Him, we'd love others as a sign of our allegiance to Him and His kingdom come.

May we return to loving and praying for those who stand against us. Who knows? Maybe God is waiting for us to do that so that He can, in turn, change and, in King's words, save the world!

Pastor Ben

PS Check out the transcript of his message - the ending prayer is powerful!
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/loving-your-enemies-sermon-delivered-dexter-avenue-baptist-church 

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