In Matthew 5, Jesus said (43) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ (44) But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” This is a hard truth to live out in the world. Our first inclination is to hate those who hate us — or at least ignore them. But to love someone who slaps me in the face!
Our current technology is making us more independent. This impacts our culture by causing us to move towards isolation. We want our own opinions, make our own decisions, follow our own paths, and have our own rules. Anyone not conforming to those boundaries is an alien or an enemy.
Jesus didn’t conform to the cultural evolution of His time. He lived in this world, but He was not part of it. So, we crucified Him. He was a alien and we saw Him as our enemy. So, we we nailed Him to a cross. Yet, despite all His suffering — He still loved us. He didn’t strike back at us or ignore us. He prayed for our forgiveness while we delighted in His shame and crucifixion. He showed us the way to eternal life while we stole His worldly possessions and mocked His words. Praise the Lord! Two thousand years later, He still loves us. Hallelujah!
That’s the kind of love that makes us God’s children.
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