Bible Verse of the Day Thursday June 15th, 2023

Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Many writings are on the advantage and benefits of being a Child of God. The list goes on, forgiveness from sin, salvation, looking forward to an eternal life with God, and definitive victory when Jesus returns to take His children home. God calls upon us to engage with those who do not like us in a way that reflects the light of Jesus to a dark and dying world. Any person can return hate for hate given; however, it requires a Child of God to give back blessings to any that do us harm.

This miracle is possible because when we, as the world, were an enemy to Jesus, He gave His life on the Cross of Calvary to display His love to the world (John 3:16). As Christians, Jesus teaches us to love others on the principle of grace, not on the virtue of the other person. The love that Jesus wraps us in is much more than any worldly love could ever measure up to. The love we show to those who do us wrong comes only from an unconditional love found in Christ Jesus. This love has a dependence on us, not on the other person. We do not treat anyone based on who they are or anything they have done to or for us, good, bad, or otherwise.

The love and care of God does not discriminate between believers and unbelievers; He loves them all the same. We are to follow His lead because God is extending His love to believers and unbelievers alike. Love is not a matter of our will, not some sentimental temporary feeling we get every so often. It is a matter of our determination to follow Jesus and His example of unconditional love. The pattern in which we live our lives should always reflect the character of Jesus and how he lived here on this earth.

When loving our enemies comes to our attention, many people are not ready to sign up for that course. Jesus illustrates the rain falling and the sun rising on the good and the evil as well (Matthew 5:45). Jesus is telling us to mirror His character and live by a higher standard than the world adheres to. This idea seems somewhat tricky for humans to adhere to; however, in God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).