Matthew 5:43-45

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…” Matthew 5:43-45

            We often talk about the privileges that come to us by being a child of God, things like receiving forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory when Christ comes. But one of the greatest privileges we get is the opportunity to reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to love those who oppose you, or to pray for those who harass and mistreat you. 

            If we respond in the same manner as them, we are no different than the world but Jesus says we should be different because our Father in Heaven is different.

Pastor Doug Hardin