LOVE YOUR ENEMIES...

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).

1. Reasons to Love your enemies:

a. God commands us to love (A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another - John 13:34)

b. Our highest calling is to spread the Gospel and help others grow in Christ (By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another - John 13:35).

c. Jesus loved his enemies. Make him your example. (O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! - Luke 13:34).

2. Hints to Love your enemies:

a. Realize that you may have misinterpreted the other person's words.

b. Don't take things personally or give in to hurt feelings. Instead, see the other person as someone with a problem who needs God's help and your prayers.

c. Determine what part you played in the problem.

d. See problems as opportunities to grow in Christ.

e. Forgive . . . even if your enemy does not apologize.

f. Pray for your enemies.

3. Evaluate your Love for your enemies:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Score yourself from 0-10 on each of the following.

"0" means, "I need a lot of improvement."
"10" means, "I'm great at this."

____ I am patient.
____ I am kind.
____ I do not envy.
____ I do not boast.
____ I am not proud.
____ I am not rude.
____ I am not self-seeking.
____ I am not easily angered.
____ I keep no record of wrongs.
____ I do not delight in evil.
____ I rejoice with the truth.
____ I always protect.
____ I always trust.
____ I always hope.
____ I always persevere.
____ My love never fails.

Love Your Enemies!!!
God Bless!!!