In the beatitude , Jesus taught his disciples thus: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5: 43. (NKJV) This exhortation tends to sound odd to a non-spirit  filled individual or an anti-christ. In Luke 6: 27 – 36 (NKJV).  It was in the same admonition that Jesus gave reason why one needs to love ones enemies; after all Jesus prayed for those who conspired to kill him by crucifixion. It is spiritually unprofitable to pray for ones friends only because, both just and unjust do enjoy limitless grace of God.

Love binds people together having destroyed hatred and enmity .

In our conteporary age and in practical application of loving God and ones neighbor, Black and white South Africans became integrated after agelong demand for scrapping apartheid. By it, Nelson Mandela emerged as the first African black President of South Africa. It will be recalled that at the end of pogrom in Rwanda and Burundi, the people came back together forgiving one another. They were able to wine and dine as one people, They forgave those who killed and maimed their neighbors during the heat of Hutu and Tutsi inter-ethnic cleansing. By this approach to life, the world would be a better place to live in. it is christ-like. Isn’t it?

Related articles

• Luke 6:17-36 – Sermon on the Plain (genebrooks.blogspot.com)