Loving One's Enemy.

"... say unto you, Love your enemies..."


The above words proceeded from the Master and therefore must be obeyed. This command may seem impossible to many, but it must be remembered that God is the God of the impossible. Why would one find loving one's enemy impossible? It is because the biblical definition of love is not understood. Allow the writer to provide his definition of biblical love. Biblical love is looking upon another and desiring God's best for them. Note the lack of emotions. I heard of a believer telling another that it is sin to dislike fellow believers. That is ridiculous. It is not a sin to dislike fellow Christians. It is a sin not to love them. Again, let it be said that to love another is to desire God's best for them. One can have this desire without liking another. The writer does not say it is good to dislike fellow believers, but it is a reality in many cases. In the above text the command of the Master is to love not the brother or even the neighbor, but the enemy. How is one to do this? In Matthew 5:44 you may find the answer. "...bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Example is given in the follwing verses as well.
Let both writer and reader remember this in the future (DV). When the enemy provokes, let us seek and desire God's best for him through our blessing upon him, our goodness to him, and our prayer for him. Evil must be overcome by goodness.
It is acceptable to dislike but not to "dislove".

Buried in Christ,
St. Loder