Matthew 5:44-45

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes the same sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jesus command was this: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” We are supposed to stand out from the world and this is one of the ways we do. Our lives should be different because we are God’s children.

Jesus asked what good is it to Love those who Love you. Everyone does that. It is easy to pay back good for good and natural to want to be around those who like us. But that is not how we are going to stand out from the world.

We will stand out when we start to Love those who hate us; to Love the unloveable. That is not something that just anyone will do. In fact most will not and will make a point to avoid those people. But we are not most; we are different and our life should reflect it. We need to Love everyone, even the outcasts.

As we continue in this verse we see Jesus talking about things that happen to us. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from we will all have good times and bad times. Your circumstances will not make you stand out, but your Love will.

When those around you are talking bad about someone or hating on them for some reason, show that person kindness. Even if they are not around, actually, especially if they are not around. That is where your true character will be revealed.

If you are Loving and praying for the unlovable when they are not there, when they do show up you won’t have to change anything. Ultimately, what it comes down to is Love. Love everyone, both those who return it and those who do not.