But I say unto you, 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, that ye may be the children of your father which is in Heaven. Matthew 5:44,45
Eileen was amazed to see the beauty of the crystal bowl that her cousin Jennifer had received from their grandmother. She had never seen such a beautiful piece of crystal, and asked if she might look at it. When Jennifer reluctantly agreed, Eileen took the bowl and examined it with delight. But when she held the bowl up so that the sunlight might reach it, the bowl slipped and fell onto the floor, shattering into pieces. We can all imagine how embarrassed and mortified Eileen would feel, to demolish her cousin’s irreplaceable heirloom! Of course it was an accident. And disappointed as she was, Jennifer frankly forgave Eileen. But the shame of such a loss was something that Eileen would never forget. Especially since she had destroyed something of her cousin’s. When we consider today’s text, we are not considering accidents or mistakes, or anything less than deliberate, and vengeful behavior by Christ’s opponents against His followers. And our response is to be the opposite of what the world would teach and expect.
Why should we react so differently from the world’s norm? It is because we are the children of God, and we are to behave ourselves as He would behave, as the Lord Jesus behaved when He was among us. As the world hated Him, it will hate us, but as His response was love, so should ours be love. In response to His enemies’ curses, He prayed for their forgiveness. No less should we. Our perfect Example has displayed the character of His Father, that we might do the same.
Does our loving, forgiving, praying response to ill-usage make us the children of God? No, we became His children when we were saved. But our loving, forgiving, praying response to ill-usage shows to the world that we God’s children. It encourages other believers to follow our Lord’s example. And it displays to Heaven that we appreciate our salvation and honour Christ’s lordship.
No, it’s not easy to accept persecution and hatred with the grace that Jesus displayed. But we have nothing of any value to lose by obeying today’s text. -Jim MacIntosh