I’m unsure that is exactly what Jesus meant when he talked about praying for our enemies and blessing those that persecute us. IN Matthew 5:43-45he said it like this:
Do we pray cynically for individuals who persecute us, turning to curse prayers? Can we just say “we love our enemies,” “bless their hearts,” after which move on?
Or is Jesus calling us to something else here? How can we truly love our enemies?
Here are seven ways we will love our enemies.
1. Pray for Them
This may not appear to be the “real” method to love an enemy, however it is step one to actually loving those we’d consider enemies. Jesus clearly tells us to hope for individuals who persecute us.
When he says this, he does not imply praying for his or her destruction or in search of your favorite cursed prayer to recite. Instead, we see Jesus modeling it for us as he prays that God will forgive those that crucify Him.
It’s hard to hope for somebody and hate them at the identical time. It is difficult to have bad feelings and need unwell of somebody after they are led before the throne room of God. Yes, they may hurt you.
Yes, we generally is a total victim. And so, praying for them may mean praying for his or her repentance, and should mean praying for his or her sin to be exposed. But even in these cases, we don’t pray vengefully and pray that the Lord will bless them.
2. Show them real respect and represent them truthfully
One of my favorite TV shows is the classics The Dick Van Dyke Show. In one particular episode, each Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) tell their friend in regards to the fight they’d last night.
In each case, the one telling the story is the hero and the opposite is the villain. It’s funny because we all know our own temptation to portray our “enemy” within the worst possible light after which present ourselves as charming and innocent as a dove.
One method to truly love our opponents is to represent them faithfully. It’s a respectful thing. I give it some thought once I engage in online discussions.
Am I representing them in a way they could be pleased with? If I tell others about their situation, will they be inclined to say, “Yes, that is exactly my position?” Do I find one of the best arguments for his or her position or cause?
In doing so, we love our enemies—and that is hard. Much easier to make monsters out of them. Or possibly they are surely monstrous. In such cases, it might appear that we’re defending evil by casting it in one of the best possible light.
But the truth is, we wish to see how the reality stands. Being people of truth by presenting the adversary in one of the best possible light may very well be a method God uses to reveal the dark side of things (and that may even be for his or her greater good).
3. Look for common ground
If you’re focused on politics, take into consideration your political “enemy” for a moment. Do they need happiness? Do they need their family to be healthy, glad and secure? Do they have the desire to make friends, have good relationships, live in peace and hope for a greater future?
Probably. After all, your “enemy” on the opposite side has the identical basic desires as you. The difference is that you have got opposing strategies for acquiring them. And sometimes you even have different definitions of those desires.
This little exercise, nevertheless, shows that we regularly have quite a bit in common. One method to love an enemy is to seek out common ground. It’s a part of what you see Matthew 5.
God causes rain and sun to enlighten each believers and non-believers. There is universal grace and subsequently there’s common ground. We can construct on a standard foundation.
4. Beware of bitterness
I’m a bit hesitant to incorporate this statement as this statement is usually utilized by DARVO abusers to their victims and community. DARVO is an abusive technique to deny, attack and reverse the victim and perpetrator.
It could be like someone sinning against one other person, deeply hurting them, after which telling about that person’s terrible response (bitterness) towards the offender.
Telling people to stop being bitter was an efficient tactic utilized by the oppressors to divert the conversation from their sin.
While that is true, the Scriptures are also true. Bitterness really poisons us. We really should cut off the basis of bitterness (Hebrews 12:14-15). One of essentially the most damaging things about spiritual abuse is that truths are hijacked for dirty purposes.
Aggressive people can use good tools to realize bad goals. It is true that we must always try to maintain our hearts from bitterness – and doing so is a way of practicing love towards our enemies.
Bitterness is a way of cutting off hope from the one who has sinned against us. It’s giving up hope that the opposite person can change. This eternally locks them within the prison of their guilt.
Yes, they need to repent. And yes, this repentance should come before we speak about reconciliation. But I must have been aware of the danger of bitterness creeping into my heart.
5. Preach the Gospel to them
The best method to love someone is to share Christ with them. But doing this also affects our own hearts towards our enemy.
When we predict of them through the grid of creation-fall-redemption-glory or God-man-Christ-answers, the best way we see them changes.
We begin to see them as God sees them. This will completely destroy my very own definitions of “enemy”.
Oddly enough, there’s a passive-aggressive way we will preach the gospel to someone. We could distance ourselves and adopt a chilly attitude. Something like saying, “Help them, Jesus, because I am unable to stand them.”
This is removed from how the New Testament presents our task as ministers of reconciliation. Our hearts needs to be broken and we must always yearn for his or her redemption, begging them to cling to Christ.
6. Listen to their stories
Another method to show like to our enemies is solely to take heed to them. Be focused on their lives. Listen to their stories. Let them talk. Why are they captivated with the things they’re captivated with? What unique breakdown have they got of their lives?
First, it could help us gain a latest perspective. But simply listening to another person’s story could be extremely distracting. It will even help me see them in a latest light.
And once I do, I’ll have the ability to like and serve them higher because I’ll come to know their unique strengths and challenges. What if “to be quick to listen to and slow to talk” is advice not only to our family members but additionally to our enemies?
7. Select Imago Dei
Every human being is made within the image of God. That means there are things we will encourage in everyone’s lives, even our best enemies. What if we see others through the lens of hope, not hatred?
What if as a substitute of creating an inventory of all of the things I disapprove of in one other person, make an inventory of all of the ways I can see God’s fingerprint on their life? What would occur if I deliberately encouraged in these areas?
Understanding that all and sundry is made within the image of God helps me see people as they are surely. Our fight just isn’t against flesh and blood. My “enemy” might be not likely my enemy.
And even in the event that they have grow to be my enemies or the enemies of Christ, it’s a set of a corrupted and disfigured image. The glory of God is being destroyed of their lives. When I give it some thought that way, the best way I interact with them changes.
Find a spot where you see a picture of God of their lives and underline it.
For further reading:
ristian-life/what-it-means-to-love-your-enemies.html”>What does it mean to ‘love your enemies’?
Why does the Bible tell us to like our enemies?
What does it mean to hope in your enemies?
Image credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PeopleImages
This article originally appeared on Christians.com. For more faith-building resources, please visit
christianity.com.
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