Unnatural Love

March 11

(Luke 6:27-28, 35-36 NIV) “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, {28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. {35} But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. {36} Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

(Matthew 5:43-48 NIV) “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' {44} But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, {45} that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. {46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? {47} And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? {48} Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Christ’s call to love our enemies is one of His hardest teachings. For the Jew, this meant the Romans. For us, it means those who have hurt, betrayed, cheated, or lied to us. Love your enemies! But how can we love someone we don’t even like? The Greek word for “love” here does not refer to romantic love, or love between a parent and child, or love between friends. It is the word “agape”. It has to do with actions, not feelings. Jesus called his followers to behave with love toward enemies and those who hate us. If people curse us, we are to bless them. If they mistreat us, we are to pray for them. Jesus calls us to a love that is unnatural. There is nothing in us that would cause us to behave in this way… except for Jesus. Only Christ, living in us, can produce this kind of supernatural love. Only God’s love can love like this. Does Christ live in you? Let His love exude from your life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day