Love Your Frenemy

“If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?”

Matthew 5:47



If you live for Jesus Christ long enough you are bound to make an enemy or two. Maybe enemy is too strong a word for you and the term “frenemy” sounds better. You know what a frenemy is right? Someone who use to be your friend and now they consider you an enemy. Though He loved perfectly Jesus had many enemies and yet regardless of what people might think or say about us, Jesus calls us to love in return. In His teaching we call the “Sermon on the Mount” Jesus taught His disciples what type of people His followers should be. We call the teaching the “beatitudes” not the “do attitudes”.

In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus tells His listeners, “43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Like Jesus disciples who hearing the Sermon on the Mount that day and who would have been convicted by what they heard they soon found out what I hope you know to be true today too. Living the life Jesus has called us to live is impossible without God’s help, lots of help. You will notice at the end of the sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches His disciples to pray as prayer is the means to the end. Prayer is our link to God’s power source. As we look to God and depend on Him our hearts and minds are transformed, and we are changed.

So, the next time someone talks about you behind your back or writes or says something hurtful about you on social media or to another person, consider the source. Instead of wanting to defend yourself or get even some how go to God in prayer. Pray and talk to God about them keeping this in mind as you do, “If you talk about people to other people you will grow to hate them but if you talk to God about people you will grow to love them as God loves them.” That tells you something about the power of prayer. Prayer changes things, namely me and you!


“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”


Matthew 6:9-13


I LOVE YOU!