On Sunday, Pastor Ky told the story of Nate Saint, a missionary who was killed in Ecuador, and his family who not only stayed but devoted their lives to serving the people who murdered him.
The Saint story is a powerful one of love, forgiveness, and redemption. But more than that, it showcases how the radical love of God can be stunningly magnified through the act of loving our enemies.
Though the world tells us to "take an eye for an eye," Jesus calls us up to a higher righteousness when it comes to those who wrong us.
If a person is slapping you, Jesus tells us to lean in then offer the other cheek. We are not to retaliate, but to offer radical, shocking love in response.
Loving our enemies does not always mean being nice or forsaking justice. Jesus himself wasn't always nice (Matt. 23) and sometimes we must take a stand against evil-doers.
Loving our enemies DOES mean...
...that we have goodwill toward everyone.
We view all people through the lens of being image-bearers of our Creator. We hope good things for all people, even our enemies, and pray for them.
...that at times, we set aside our right to personal justice.
When we are wronged, we have a unique opportunity to put God's love on display.
...that we should love others in ways that don't make sense.
Jesus asks, "for if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?" - even the world does this. We are to love others at the cost of ourselves, not to earn someone else's love, or God's, but in view of the love God has already lavished on us.
In this, Jesus is the ultimate example of loving your enemies.
We might think of Jesus' enemies as being the Romans or the Pharisees, but really, ALL WHO SIN are enemies of God. WE were Jesus' enemies. Yet, He chose to love us despite our rebellion and hostility.
Surely He was not thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about us as He held Himself to that cross. But sacrificially, in LOVE, He remained there for us. Jesus loved His enemies so much He laid down His life.
"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - 1 John 4:10
Only through Him do we have the power to truly love our enemies.
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For more on the Nick Saint story...