There’s no doubt we need the Lord’s instructions and His Holy Spirit’s power working through us to be successful in loving our enemies. Yet we may need help in identifying our enemies and determining our level of communication with them. Are they believers we define as difficult or carnal, or are they unbelievers who don’t know God at all?
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I’m reminded of the unbelievers we’re told not to be yoked together with as shown in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them, and walk among them and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
However, we’re instructed in Galatians 6:10: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Though we may gather doing good to an enemy does not necessarily mean being yoked together, or in a binding relationship with them, loving our enemies is our response to those who offend us and our way of life or faith–a part of living the Christian lifestyle.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 continues with: “Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Then Chapter 7, follows with: “…let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Nevertheless, we have the Lord’s direction in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Also, we’re told in Luke 6:27-28: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
So, though we should not forget that we are justified by faith in Jesus, apart from the works of the law, at the same time, we must understand we still have some responsibility and effort to maintain Christlike behavior in our lives. 1 Peter 1:15 reminds us that: “… just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
One part of this being holy entails loving our enemies, those who oppose us and possibly even want to harm us or see us fail. This could be someone we don’t know personally or someone we know very well. It may be someone who knows nothing of Jesus and the Bible, or someone who knows much about the Bible but interprets it differently than they should. Or, one who sees no real value in its contents.
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In any event, we must show respect for them as fellow humans who Christ died for and pray for them. This is loving them. It does not mean we are to walk closely with them as the Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Further, in dealing with even those who profess to be Christians, but practice hypocrisy, Jesus tells us we are to “guard against the yeast of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1)… .” This included self-righteousness, doing to be seen, not practicing what they preached, neglecting justice, mercy and faithfulness, greed, and self-indulgence.
Another important verse to note is Galatians 6:1, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Each time we encounter an enemy, we should pray to our heavenly Father specifically about how to communicate with them if at all. It may be that we are to remain quiet. Relying on the Holy Spirit and what He shows us in His word about loving an enemy, and obeying Him, may result in our enemy experiencing the Holy Spirit’s fruit of God’s love in us. If he or she does not recognize it as love, they will surely recognize it as being different from the world.
Ms. Rita's Minute 