But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
We’ve all felt the urge to distance ourselves, to fire back, or at least to hold onto our hurt when someone wrongs us. Yet, Jesus tells us to love, bless, do good, and pray for those who mistreat us.
What Does It Mean to Love an Enemy?
It was hard to write the question because this is something I still struggle with sometimes. Since I was a kid, I’ve been picked on by bullies and used by most of my friends. I usually held a grudge, and sometimes my actions toward them were my way of sending messages back.
As I grew up, I have learned to let go. No, it was not quick and easy, but I’ve felt better when grudges were released.
“Kill them with kindness,” my mom says from time to time. From my experience, it usually shuts them up as they are surprised by my uncommon response.
I am not saying that we need to pretend that the hurt never happened or continue to allow toxic people to continue harming us. What I am trying to say is that we should respond with grace instead of bitterness. In other words, releasing the need for revenge and instead seeking peace. Don’t fight fire with fire.
We also need to pray for them as Jesus specifically tells us. Prayer shifts our focus to surrendering the situation to God for vengeance shall be His (Romans 12:19).
Why Should We Love Our Enemies?
I know this isn’t easy. It’s something that we struggle with. But holding on to anger only weighs us down, sometimes even showing up in our bodies as stress, headaches, or fatigue.
It may sound surprising, but when we extend love, we open the door to transformation. We never know how God may use a small act of kindness to soften a hardened heart. And the way we respond could be the very thing that points someone to Christ.
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