Christians have no enemies

A Christian has no enemies.

This may be the hardest thing about Christian life.

Harder than mission work that can take us far from home.

Harder than morals that keep us from what we crave.

One thing we crave in our human spirits: Enemies.

Enemies to blame. Enemies to fight.

Enemies to put down so that we can put ourselves up: “Look how bad they are!”

But if we keep our enemies, we cannot keep our Christ.

What did our Christ say?

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven…” (Gospel of Matthew 5:44).

Or: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Gospel of Matthew 5:9).

The children of God are the ones who have no enemies. They love and pray for those who would be enemies. They make peace like God makes peace.

Making peace is God’s plan. Making peace is God’s will.

Not just peace between God and humans, but peace between humans and humans.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility (Letter to the Ephesians 2:15b-16).

God is trying to make you part of “one new humanity,” too.

With whom?

Who do you want to fight? Who is it hard to not hate? Who is it easy for you to judge?

God wants to make you one with them.

A Christian has no enemies.

What will you do with this?