Matthew 5:43-48 MSG - Jesus' Words
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
I ask you what has become a familiar question from me to you in this podcast: What words stood out to you? Say it back to yourself. Then ask why?
We don’t really like the world-turned-upside-down verses like “Love your enemy,” do we? When someone gives you a hard time, pray for them? Really? These are tough and challenging words, but then it’s also the very reason we are drawn to Jesus, right?
With this in mind listen again to part of the passage
“… I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best … to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. … “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Can you think of someone in your life, or maybe even someone you don’t know… but you know of, that you strongly dislike or perhaps even hate? Can you pray for them right now? Prayer changes things… more than changing others and circumstances…it changes us.
Let’s take a few moments and pray for those we don’t like but God says He loves. Pray that they would encounter God and His love the way you have.
What in Jesus’ teaching do you need to “grow up” in, as verse 48 stated? Where have you been rationalizing hate and you have to trade it in for some of God’s love? I love the last line … “live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, help me to love my friends more and turn any hatred I have to love and pray like You said. I know you know that’s hard but if anyone can help me get to that place, it’s You, right? Teach me to live generously and graciously. As above, so below.”