So how do we love our enemy?
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)
Over and over again in the New Testament, we are told to love. We are to love our families. We are to love God. We are to love our neighbor. We are to love our enemies. When we love someone, we need to know that we are loved back. Paul even tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is the greatest attribute we can possess. So how do we love our enemy?
The key is Christ. We cannot love unless we are loved. Christ loved us so much that He died on the cross for us. He became sin for us that we might become His righteousness. Christ shares His love with us through the Holy Spirit and gives us the ability to love others even if they don’t love us back. We are told to imitate God, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 (ESV).
This week, seek to love those around you the way that Christ loved you first.