THE LOVE OF GOD’S CHILDREN FOR THEIR ENEMIES
Matthew 5:43-47
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in heaven.” Our character or conduct reveals whose
children we are. The New Testament speaks of (1) the children of God (Matthew
5:9; 2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 5:1-6), (2) the children
of the wicked one (Matthew 13:38; 1 John 5:18,19), (3) the children of this
world (Luke 16:8), (4) the children of light (John 12:36; Ephesians 5:8; 1
Thessalonians 5:5-8), (5) the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2), (6) the
children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) and (7)
the children of the devil (1 John
3:8-10; John 8:44).
By birth, by nature and
by practice, we have all been children of disobedience, children of wrath,
children of this world, children of the wicked one and children of the devil.
Only by conversion, through repentance and faith in Christ, do we become
children of God. As children of God, we manifest the character of God. With the
Spirit of God living and abiding in us as God’s children, we bear the fruit of
the Spirit - love in all its gracious expressions. This love is most visible
and noticeable in our actions towards our enemies.
1. SCRIPTURAL PERCEPTION OF GOD’S CHILDREN ON EARTH
Matthew 5:43-45; 2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Galatians 3:26-29;
Romans 8:14-17; Romans 9:8,26; John 8:41-44; 1 John 3:8-10; Matthew 5:9; 1
Peter 1:14-16; Ephesians 5:1-6.
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in
heaven” means that ye may resemble or be like your Father. As it is in
the natural, so it is in the spiritual: character or good works cannot come
before the birth of a child. First, the birth, then the behaviour or the
character. After a child has been born, then the characteristics will show that
he resembles the father. We do not become children of God by loving our enemies
but we love our enemies because we have already experienced genuine conversion
and real transformation of nature, life and character. People around us,
including our enemies, can only see or observe the internal transformation or
conversion through our outward actions and character. Seeing or observing our
attitude and acts of kindness and love towards our enemies, they conclude that
we are children of God indeed. If we find it impossible to love our enemies, we
ourselves doubt our profession of being children of God. It is our character
that confirms our conversion.
2. SCRIPTURAL PRAYER OF GOD’S CHILDREN FOR THEIR ENEMIES
Matthew 5:43-45; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:51-60; Psalm 35:11-15; 1
Kings 13:4-10; Luke 6:27,28; Luke 22:47-51; 1 Peter 3:9.
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you.” These are not imaginary or supposed enemies; these are active
enemies. They openly and actively reveal themselves as our enemies by cursing
us, speaking evil of us and to us, wishing evil to come on us; showing hatred
to us by attitude, action and words; despising, insulting and attempting to
hurt us and our interests; persecuting or causing us emotional and physical
pain. By their action, they demonstrate plainly and clearly that they are
instruments in the hand of the enemy of our soul (Matthew 13:39). What is the
reaction of a true child of God to human enemies? “Love them, bless them,
do good to them, pray for them.” The first thing is to forgive them,
because without such forgiveness we cannot love them as Christ commanded. Then,
we pity them and pray that they might repent, turn from sin and Satan to God
and righteousness so as to escape eternal judgement and the condemnation of
enemies of righteousness.
3. SCRIPTURAL PROVISION OF GOD’S CHILDREN FOR THEIR ENEMIES
Matthew 5:43-47; Acts
14:15-17; Romans 2:4; Luke 6:32-36; Deuteronomy 7:3,4; Matthew 7:6; 13:10,11;
Matthew 20:20-23; 10:12-16; 2 Samuel 10:1-18.
God’s children are to be like their Father Who is in heaven. In
what way? God gives sunshine and rain, fruitful seasons, harvest and food to
the just and the unjust. We, as children of God, should also give appropriate
and good things to our enemies. Yet, we must “rightly divide the Word of
truth.” We cannot give to anyone, friend or foe, that which belongs to
God only. Our heart, worship, life, family and children, tithes and talent all
belong to God. Also, we cannot give to anyone, brethren or enemies, that which
only God, not man, can give. Only God can give salvation, spiritual gifts,
ministry, heaven and eternal rewards. And we cannot give to our enemies what
God has commanded specifically to be given to Him, to His Kingdom or to our
family and children. What then are we to provide and give to our enemies? “Therefore
if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.” Love
him: forgive and give.
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