In Search of My Enemy

One of the most challenging commands given by Jesus is the counsel on how we should behave towards people who seek to do us wrong. 

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

By definition, an enemy is someone who is actively seeking my discomfort and/or downfall. So how can I love such a person? Jesus didn’t say ignore that person, which though difficult might be more achievable, but rather to love them.  Love is an action word. It doesn’t allow for a passive approach to our enemies. The action He suggested is that we “pray” for such persons. What should our prayer be— for revenge on the evil that they have done? Some people have sometimes in jest promised to “pray for”, meaning they will seek revenge through prayer. 

Paul affirms Jesus’s counsel,  “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:14, 15.

The action that Paul suggests is to “bless” and “rejoice with”. How do we pray for, bless, and rejoice with those who are hostile, unkind, unfair, and maligning us? Peter asked Jesus, how many times should we forgive a person, “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 22. 

One way is to think of that person as a member of our family— and he or she is, since we share a Heavenly Father! As a sister or brother we will hate the things they do to us, we will clearly inform them of the pain that they have caused us, set new boundaries, then move away from that event still accepting that person as someone to love. 

Another way, is to recognize that person as the “middle man”, being used to derail our dreams, our careers, our happiness. As such the hate that we feel will be directed not to the individual but to the forces of evil working through them. 

“Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:11-12. 

The third and best reason is the one Jesus gave, 

““For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins. Matthew 6:14, 15. 

Today’s Goal: To forgive our “enemy”, release any grudges that we hold, and live joyously.