READ: Luke 6 (Focus vs. 27–31)
MEMORY VERSE
“Love your enemies.” Luke 6:27
BACKGROUND
The handshake spoke volumes.
On a March night in 1963, two college basketball players—one Black, one White—defied the hate of segregationists and shook hands, marking the first time in Mississippi State’s history that its all-White men’s team played against an integrated team.
To compete in the “game of change” against Loyola University Chicago in a national tournament, the Mississippi State squad avoided an injunction to stop them by using decoy players to leave their state.
Loyola’s Black players, meantime, had endured racial slurs all season, getting pelted with popcorn and ice, and faced closed doors while traveling.
Yet the young men played. The Loyola Ramblers beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 61–51, and Loyola eventually went on to win the NCAA national championship.
But what really won that night? A move from hate toward love. As Jesus taught, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
God’s instruction was a life-changing concept.
To love our enemies as Christ taught, we must obey His revolutionary mandate to change. As Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
But how does His new way in us defeat the old? With love. Then, in each other, we can finally see Him.
By: Patricia Raybon
INSIGHT
The challenging commands that Jesus gives in Luke 6:27–31 are clear: we’re to love, bless, and do good to others.
By reading further, however, we see the rationale for these exhortations: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (vv. 35–36). When followers of Jesus “flip the script” on hate, abuse, and selfishness, they demonstrate their kinship to their heavenly Father whose care is shared without discrimination.
Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:1–2 carry the same sentiment: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
In your life, what leads you to see others as enemies? What changes can you make to confront hate with Jesus’ love?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
An enemy is a potential friend wearing a mask – Unmask him/her
“…even the way we treat our enemies reflects our trust in and dependence upon God and His ultimate care.” Our Daily Bread
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“To love our enemies as Christ taught, we must obey His revolutionary mandate to change.”
PRAYER
“Help me, loving God, to see others not as enemies, but as Your precious people to love like Jesus does.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES” Kate Carpenter
If you love those who love you,
God is not impressed.
If you love those who BUG you,
That’s when you’ll be blessed.
Look him in the eye,
And love the meanest guy.
Jesus will be pleased.
Pray for those who persecute you.
La la la la la la love —your enemies.
Big bad Saul had a lot of hate.
Tried to send a spear,
Though a man named Dave.
Dave in a cave had to make a choice.
He chose to listen to the heavenly voice.
Bloody man dying on the Jericho Road
Priest and the Levite,
Just turned up their nose
Good Sam, what a man,
Stopped to help that guy
Bound up his wounds
So he wouldn’t die.
Now we’ll sing a song about deacon Steve,
Willing to die for what he believed in
Got stoned, broken bones,
But before he died
Prayed for the guys who tore up His side.
No one could do it like Jesus could.
Whipped and slapped,
And nailed to the wood.
Sin couldn’t win ‘cuz the Lord,
He forgave
And we got the power
We got the power
We got the power
When He popped through the grave!
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR DAILY
Deuteronomy 23-25
Mark 14:1-26
