Love your enemies

Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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.

God is always trying to reconcile sinners to Him. Therefore he asks of us that we might do the same by loving our enemies and praying for them. For God watches over both the righteous and unrighteous.

A pastor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, recently had an opportunity to practice what he preaches regarding turning the other cheek and showing forgiveness.

The pastor was standing in front of a group of people when a man punched him in the face. Victory Christian Center's pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, continued his sermon even though the blow had opened a cut above his eye that would later require two stitches.

Church members subdued his attacker, and police arrested 50-year-old Steven Rogers. Daugherty, however, did not press any charges. In fact, he prayed for his assailant during the church service, and visited him in jail a few days later. [www.firstcoastnews.com; submitted by Michael Herman, Lisle, Illinois]

It is difficult to care for those who have wronged us, yet The Lord cares for each and everyone one of us, He loves us and He finds us precious even though we may have turned our back on Him many times. Listen to the words of Jesus and love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.