Love Your Enemies
READ: Matthew 5:38-48
In a hurry to get home, Beth jumped in the car and headed for the freeway. Dan, also in a hurry, was weaving in and out of traffic to get to a wedding. It just so happened that Beth and Dan were driving side by side when Dan’s lane started to hit the brakes. In a desperate act, not to lose time, he swerved in front of Beth, causing her to rear-end him. As soon as they pulled over, Beth jumped out of her car. She was so steaming mad that she started telling Dan what she thought of him and did some crude gesturing. Dan didn’t hear her because he was doing some yelling of his own. The situation didn’t get cleared up for another two hours.
What would you have done in this situation? Would you have been like Beth, with the hot head? Think about it, what would Jesus have wanted us to do? In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven.”
Love your enemies? Yes, it’s hard for us to imagine. Look at it this way. Try to imagine how the situation would be different if Beth kept her cool and tried to calm Dan down. They might have gotten it cleared up faster and Beth could have lived her faith before Dan and the other people passing them. Another soul could have been reached by this simple act of working things through.
If this happened again, what would you do?
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Why does God forgive us when we mess up? How can we witness to others when they do wrong toward us?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to help you love the people who you don’t get along with and to show forgiveness to them.