Love Your Enemies
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” - John 13:34
Love cannot be conditional. The same way you love a friend must be the same way you love a foe. Luke 6:32-34 says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.”
Jesus taught the importance of mimicking a godly character. We are to be set apart. Therefore, if we choose to only love those who love us, we are no different than those in the world. When people see us, they should see God. The way to do that is to show restraint and love in the face of opposition.
This is when we rely on the strength of the Lord. Because in our strength, we will have no desire to be good to those who are not good to us. However, when we are channeling the strength of the Lord, He will reveal to us the areas that we must stretch, the areas where, by default, we once wanted to say harmful things to another person, but now we feel the conviction of not responding in a godly manner.
John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Are you loving others as God loves? Or are you saying, “I have to win this argument,” or “Your feelings don’t matter.” Ask God to search your heart. And remove anything that will prevent you from loving those who have not shown love to you.
Love cannot be conditional. The same way you love a friend must be the same way you love a foe. Luke 6:32-34 says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.”
Jesus taught the importance of mimicking a godly character. We are to be set apart. Therefore, if we choose to only love those who love us, we are no different than those in the world. When people see us, they should see God. The way to do that is to show restraint and love in the face of opposition.
This is when we rely on the strength of the Lord. Because in our strength, we will have no desire to be good to those who are not good to us. However, when we are channeling the strength of the Lord, He will reveal to us the areas that we must stretch, the areas where, by default, we once wanted to say harmful things to another person, but now we feel the conviction of not responding in a godly manner.
John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Are you loving others as God loves? Or are you saying, “I have to win this argument,” or “Your feelings don’t matter.” Ask God to search your heart. And remove anything that will prevent you from loving those who have not shown love to you.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments