Transformed: Relational Health - Day 4

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.“ Luke 6:35 (NIV) 

Love your enemies. If ever we missed the radical nature of Jesus’ message, here it is, loud and clear. Jesus calls us to love those who do not love us. To love those who have wounded us. To love those who slander our name or gossip about us. Just a few verses prior to this Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you“ (Luke 6:27-28 NIV). If this isn’t radical living, I don’t know what is. 

We get a clear picture of this radical kind of love in Jesus’ life. As he hung up on the cross, wounded, mocked and ridiculed, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing“ (Luke 23:34 NIV).

 In the midst of his pain and suffering, Jesus extended love to his enemies. He prayed for their forgiveness. Not only does this scene give us a model for loving our enemies, but it reminds us of the profound truth of God‘s love for us. As Scripture tells us, it was while we were enemies of God ourselves that Christ Jesus died for us so that we could be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). In a very real sense, Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness extends to us, for in our sin we stand with his accusers, persecutors, and mockers.

We know we do not merit God’s favor, and yet, he has freely and fully poured out his love and grace upon us. It is this kind of love that transforms our hearts and makes us more like Jesus, so that we can display his radical love even to our enemies, or perhaps, especially to them.

 Next Steps. Write down your answers to these questions. 

What did you hear?

What do you think?

What will you do?

Now talk to God...

Work Cited

Warren, R. (2014). Daily devotions: Transformed: How God Changes Us. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: Saddleback Church.