Where is the Hope? Thursday February 29
February 29, 2024, 1:00 AM

Where is the Hope when you’ve done something wrong?

Believing Jesus died to pay for all I’ve done wrong.  

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matt 5:43-45 - 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.

In today's passage, Jesus challenges us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This commandment goes beyond the conventional wisdom of loving our neighbors and even extends to those who oppose us or wish us harm.  This exhortation from Jesus comes just before the Lord’s prayer in Matt 6:12 “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”.  

Loving our enemies seems counterintuitive. Our natural inclination might be to harbor resentment, seek revenge, or simply ignore those who mistreat us. However, Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love – a love that mirrors the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father.

Loving our enemies doesn't mean condoning their behavior or becoming their doormat. It means choosing to respond with kindness, forgiveness, and prayer, even in the face of hostility. 

Hope in Action:  When we love our enemies, we demonstrate the transformative power of God's love at work in our lives.

 

Bible Memory

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.