Day 22

God demands a lifestyle of a higher standard for His children. He desires for us to become more and more like Jesus as we mature in our faith. In verses Matt 5:43-45 we are told to not just love our neighbour, as the Law told us to, but we are to take it even further and love our enemies! So now Jesus announces that we are to ‘love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us’! There are days that it is a struggle for us to love our neighbours, let alone love and pray for those who persecute us! But see, it is a matter of will and not just emotions. If our actions in this life are only in direct response to our feelings, we will not live the life that God has called us to, through His Son Jesus Christ. We must purpose to obey His Word even when we do not “feel” like doing so. When we love our enemies, it is a wonderful example to the unsaved all around us of the love of Christ Jesus. It is not that we are condoning (accepting) the acts of those who persecute God’s people, but we are showing them love and forgiveness despite their deeds, just as Christ has done for us. “You have heard that it was said. ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45