Love your enemies …
by Tatiana Overduin
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44,45a).
Read Matthew 5:38–48
Revenge. It is such a common emotion in our broken world. It replays in our heads, winds us up and plays out on the screens of our hearts and minds. Who is not guilty of wanting to pay someone back when they have wronged us? I only see one hand raised. Jesus says, ‘But I tell you …’ Here in this text, we, as followers of Christ, are provided the way to behave toward our enemies by Jesus.
Stop the press! I don’t know about you, but this isn’t my default. I get hurt, someone says something hurtful, insulting, mean … and I go into a defence mechanism. It’s like pushing a button. I can’t do it. I can’t love my enemy. I feel indignant. They need to learn that it’s not nice to say that, do that or treat me that way! They need to learn that it’s just not on, and I will be the one who teaches them!
Wrong option. Wrong door. Wrong way. Turn back. Repent.
My way is human. What I need is divine intervention. And it comes, you know. It comes when we sit with the Lord, open his word, speak with him in prayer and pray for the ‘offender’. Our hearts soften. The psalms are a witness to this transition that occurs when we seek the Lord for something so against our human default. The psalmist calls for help, releases their complaint, and help comes. God’s mercy delivers the capability to gain genuine love for our enemy. The psalmist praises God.
This Christmas, a dear friend gifted me Reading the Psalms with Luther: The Psalter for Individual and Family Devotions, and it has provided much consolation since the beginning of this year. I’m reminded daily how I cannot fulfil Jesus’ command to love and pray for my enemies. But when we seek him and his way, we can, in return, achieve this love with gratitude, freedom and peace.
Loving God, speak to us daily through your holy word and help us to seek your way to deal with conflict, harm and indignation. Let us daily turn to you when we need to love our enemy. Enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit to pray for our enemies so we can live as your children on Earth, as we await your coming again when we can live with you forever. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Tatiana is married to Jim, and they live at Largs North, a seaside location in Adelaide. They have two adult children and six grandchildren. This year, Tatiana looks forward to spending more time building her art therapy/knitting business, writing, gardening and enjoying an early morning beach walk. Tatiana gained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Australian Lutheran College in 1996. Both Tatiana and Jim attend worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
