“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”
Matthew
5:44
This is not a political statement.
In fact, as I look back on the previous presidential election, I believe the
right person won. I also believe that God puts the people in office that He
wants and does so for a reason. But I look at comments made recently by our
president and I cringe as they fly in the face of what the Bible says a Christian
should do.
I cringe because I know President
Trump professes to be a Christian and his statement makes me wonder if he is
being mentored by mature Christians whose goal is to make a disciple of Christ.
I hope that he was joking and that deep down he knows what Christ Himself
taught us. I cringe because more than once have I heard pastors commenting on
how people in their churches did not believe that “love your enemies,” is in
the Bible and they weren’t joking. My heart is troubled as I wonder if we are
missing the opportunity to, “…be perfect, just as (our) Father in heaven is
perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Those who follow Jesus are called
to love our neighbor AND our enemies. This is what Jesus taught and doing so
allows us to follow in His footprints. Anything less than that completely
misses the mark.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For
if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren
only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors
do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as
your Father in heaven is perfect.
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