“What I tell you is this: You should love the people who want to hurt you. If people cause you to have trouble, pray that God would help them. If you live like this, you will show that you really are children of your Father above. God is kind to everyone. He causes the sun to shine on everyone, both good people and bad people. He also causes the rain to fall on everyone, people who obey him and people who do not obey him.” – Matthew 5:44-45 (EASY)

In the preceding verse, Jesus mentioned that “it is true you have been told by your ancestors to love your friends and hate your enemies.” But, He says, it should not be so.

You might say this one is not a big deal, right? But, some of you—when, for example, a bus driver or conductor speaks rashly to you—will not even allow it to “land” before you return it back hot to the person, let alone if the conductor curses you. Ahhhh, some believers might even open Deuteronomy to rain scriptural curses back at such a person.

Jesus instructs us to love unselfishly (that is, seeking the good of others) our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

An experience was shared by one of our mothers in the Lord. She said there was a particular lady who just chose a day to make the workplace miserable for her. The lady kept crossing boundaries, accusing her of things she didn’t do. It got to a point where she could not take it any longer and wanted to lash back hotly at the lady, but then the Spirit of God told her to keep quiet.

My God! In obedience to the voice of God, she could not hold her hot tears back; she cried. She kept quiet and did not react to any of the chaos the lady was causing. The lady was shocked by this and then started feeling uncomfortable and restless until she went back to apologize to her.

This led to the salvation of this lady, and also helped her marriage, because her home was in turmoil, which was part of the reason she was taking it out on people at work.

This restraint took a lot of discipline and, mostly, the help of the Holy Spirit. Some believers would have been devising and scheming ways to get back, that they would not even hear when the Holy Spirit speaks to them.

“You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48 (AMP) [Lev 19:2]

If your character, speech, reaction, and attitude toward situations do not lead men to the cross of Christ for salvation, you need to check yourself and work on yourself with the help of God.

Pray : Father, I ask and receive the grace to walk in love to all men, regardless of whether they are good or bad, in Jesus’ name.