Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
Think of the one person on this planet whom you despise more than anyone else. Here’s what Jesus says we should do about people like that:
Love them.
Pray for them.
What would happen if people actually took Jesus’ words seriously? Think we’d have less war? Fewer shootings in our neighborhoods?
Want more peace in the world? Let it start today with you. Ask God to crack the cement around your heart and to help you love the people you hate. And then pray for them.
Need more inspiration? Here are a few additional verses for your consideration:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)
Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)
Do not repay anyone evil for evil … If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. (Romans 12:17, 20)
When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. (1 John 2:9-10).
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
RIGHT NOW.
JESUS SAYS.
I have no obligation to love those outside of my immediate Christian circle and my family. Look at the Scripture. To whom did Jesus address it ? To the world in general and at large, or to His own disciples. The command often interpreted as “loving” others is to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). I believe acts of kindness taught in the other Scriptures you cited in your post or blog falls within living peaceably. Just my two bits.
Thanks for the comment — appreciate it. Here’s my view …
Jesus’ commands to “love your neighbor” and “love your enemies” state exactly that without any added qualifier or limiter such as “but only if they’re Christians.” He certainly could have said that if that’s what he intended.
In Luke 6:27 right after he says “love your enemies,” he says “do good to those who hate you.” That would seem to indicate that he’s not talking only about other believers (who certainly shouldn’t “hate” each other). Jesus himself often reached out to those outside the faith (the Samaritan woman at the well, the Roman soldier, etc.). In Galatians 6, Paul tells us not to “become weary in doing good” and then specifically says in 6:10 “let us do good to ALL people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
So while I agree that we are to “especially” love other believers, I don’t believe Jesus intended for it to stop there. One of the things that drew me personally to Christianity was the love Christians showed me when I wasn’t a believer. If they had kept it all to themselves, I might have found the whole thing phony/hypocritical.
Hope that helps. Again, sincerely appreciate the comment!