Recapturing the Wonder of Christmas: Love Your Enemies

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Throughout His ministry, Jesus called upon those following Him to love their enemies. In his book Everybody Always, Bob Goff acknowledges that he doesn’t have people he would consider to be enemies, but he does know others he believes are flat-out wrong about more than a couple of things. And while they may not be enemies, Goff recognizes that Jesus is calling him to love them. 

This message to love our enemies – or even those we may feel are flat-out wrong about more than a couple of things – isn’t an easy message to live by. In truth, being sacrificial and thinking of others as more important than ourselves is a significant challenge. But it is the calling Jesus asks us to fulfill. 

To put it another way, it’s easy to tell somebody they are doing something wrong. But being right doesn’t help change others’ hearts. Our hearts were changed by Jesus giving His life sacrificially. And we won’t change the hearts of others if we’re more interested in being right than we are in reflecting the love of God. Today, continue to ask God to help you reflect His love well.

What is love? Love is choosing to become more and more like Jesus. 

PRAYERS:

Take the opportunity to write the following prayers down at least once a day to help these truths transform your life. 

Heavenly Father, help me to remember today and every day that I am totally, completely, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally loved by You. No matter what I do, no matter what I say, no matter what mistakes I’ve made…nothing, absolutely nothing can separate me from Your love. May this truth permeate every aspect of being and transform any unhealthy thoughts I may have about You, myself, or others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 8:38-39, Romans 12:2)

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that it is Your ongoing kindness which draws me closer to You and leads me away from sin. Today, may I accept Your invitation to reflect the wonders of Your love and kindness toward others in everything I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Romans 2:4, Ephesians 4:32, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Luke 6:27-36).

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