Date: Sunday, 26th November, 2023
Text: Matthew 5:43-48
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
One of the hardest truths of Christianity is today’s topic. Naturally speaking, we are expected to hate our enemies and seek every means to bring them down.
However, in today’s text, Jesus said, “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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
One of the reasons why we should love our enemies is stated in Ephesians 6:12, which says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
I have said it again and again, that the spiritual controls the physical. So you need to see beyond the physical entities attacking you. When Jesus was about to breathe his last he prayed for his enemies, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” Luke 23:34
He prayed that prayer because he saw beyond the physical enemies. He knew that they were under the influence of unseen evil powers from the realm of darkness in the hands of whom they were simply puppets. The real enemy of Mankind is the devil and his demons.
With that understanding, it will be easy to forgive others and not hold their sins against them. Receive grace to love your enemies in Jesus name.
Prayer Nugget: Father, please enlarge my heart and grant me grace to love my enemies in Jesus name.