Forgiveness, Oh What a Feeling 4

The fourth person that we as Christians must learn to forgive may be the hardest and most absurd in the eyes of the world - our enemies. In Luke 6:27 we have this command from the lips of Jesus, "Love your enemies." This seems like the most impossible task a man has been called to do, and truth be told, it is impossible if one is not walking close with Christ. Having enemies is a part of being a Christian (Matt. 5:10-12), forgiving those enemies is a super-natural task. Let me share with you this truth: When God's children forgive their enemies they display God's supernatural strength and legitimize their heavenly relationship.

As we look at Luke 6:27-30, we see several lessons Christ is teaching His disciples by commanding them to love those who hate them. First, when you love your enemies you love the second mile (6:27-30). When someone hits you or takes something from you because of your faith in Christ, we are commanded to let them do so as a testimony of God's strength living in us. Oh friend, this is very difficult, but it can be done only by God's power. The lesson Jesus is teaching is for His children not to hold tightly to material possessions, but hold tightly to Christ and the path of righteousness. If you lose both body and possessions for the sake of Christ, then God approves you (Matt. 5:10-12). Second, by loving your enemies you are living the Golden Rule. Two years ago, the Amish community showed the world what it meant to live the Golden Rule (6:31-34). When their children were executed by a lone gunman, the Amish community rallied around his family to help meet some financial needs they had. Anyone can love their friends, but only a heavenly relationship could love one's enemies. Third, loving our enemies legitimizes our heavenly relationship (6:35). When we endure the persecution and harm from our enemies, there is promised of a real reward and a real relationship. God will truly reward those who forgive the unlovely, and this act is a true sign of being a legitimate and faithful son or daughter of our heavenly Father. When we live this way, not only does our stress levels go down, but also we are living a Biblical theology that believes in a God who sees all and will reward the faithful, and He will be the final Judge. Well, until next time, keep walking close to Christ.