Love Your Enemies

 Why is this so hard for some Christians? Why do so many just give lip service to this scripture?

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:59-60 (ESV)
And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

This is the type of love we should show to our enemies and those who persecute us.
I know how hard this can be, but it is what we are called to do.
But so many just want to shun you over so much less.

The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:5 (ESV)
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Matthew 6:11-12 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.