Let's Go Back to the Bible

You and your enemies

The identification of “your enemies” surely varies from person to person, but the Bible has much to say about how we should treat them. And, everything that God tells us to do toward our enemies is 180 degrees from how we might normally think, requiring our absolute diligence.

Jesus tells us to “agape love” our enemies, wanting what is very best for them and putting their needs above our own (Matt. 5:44). That will require our fixed attention. Jesus tells us to “bless” them, “do good” to them and “pray” for them (5:44). Have you done that? In quoting from the Old Testament, Paul tells us “feed” our enemy when he’s hungry and “give him a drink” when he’s thirsty (Rom. 12:20). The wise man Solomon tells us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him” (Prov. 24:17-18).

We were once “enemies” of Christ and He died for us (Rom. 5:10). What will we do for our enemies?