The Ultimate Challenge

 

 Mt 5:43-48

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ 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. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

God is not satisfied with half-measures. He asks hard things of us: to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to "be perfect as he our heavenly Father is perfect."  How is this possible? For God everything is possible, so let's not look for excuses to avoid doing our best to put these verses into practice. It may be one small step at a time, but at least it's progress. Our lazy self will look for excuses: "It's too hard!" We need  to ask for God's help and his grace will assuredly make  all things possible.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, increase my capacity to love, even my "enemies" or those who are hard to love; help me to be perfect as you, my heavenly Father, are perfect. Amen.