Today in the world there is so much conflict and hatred going on. The Bible says these things will happen and it gives us some advice on how to handle it.
Matthew 5:43-48 TPT – “Your ancestors have also been taught ‘Love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you.’ [44] However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. [45] For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. [46] What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don’t even the tax collectors do that? [47] How are you any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends? Don’t even the ungodly do that? [48] Since you are children of a perfect Father in heaven, you are to be perfect like him.”
We see that there was a time when people where taught to love their neighbour and to hate those who hate them. In the passage above we see Jesus taught some different things.
Jesus said…
1. To love our enemies, not hate them.
2. To bless those who curse us.
3. To do something nice for them.
4. To pray for those who persecute us.
These four points are very clear and easy to understand. Yes, they are hard to do, but it is what Jesus wants us to do. Ultimately it is what best for us too.
We also see in the above passage that there are two things that happen as a result of this…
1. It helps to identify as God’s children.
2. It shows we are different from the world around us.
As Christians we should want to be identified as God’s children and shine our lights to the world around us. If we do the four things above when persecuted, we will shine God’s light and love to others.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, please help me to respond to persecution and hatred in the way You want me to respond. Help me to love others, pray for them and be a blessing to them. Help me to let my light shine and show I am different from those around me. In Your name, Amen.
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