Matthew 5:43-48 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
Let’s face it, the Pharisees do everything that Jesus says we are not to do. When it comes to loving people, they again restrict their love to only those they deem worthy or they limit their love to those within their little community of people. Jesus will not stand for this either.
Jesus meant love to be for everyone the believer comes in contact with. Yes, this can be very difficult at times. When we are most upset or angered by someone, love is the last thing on our minds or in our hearts. Let’s face it, Jesus will not stand for this either. He died for us so that so that we might submit to his Spirit and love as he loved.
It is difficult to love someone who persecutes you. The cynic in us makes love difficult for a total stranger. But the stories we see in the Gospels about Jesus reveal his willingness to love beyond his comfort zone.
Jesus extended love to all people we come in contact with.
As God sends the rains on the righteous and the unrighteous, we are to do rain down his love on all. The love God has shown for us is the same love we are to show to others. Jesus tells us that we are to be like Him. We are to follow the perfect model God has set before us, his Son, Jesus Christ. To model Him is to be love in action and in form.
Jesus tells us to "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect". Loving the loveless reveals a nature transformed by Christ.
