Focus on God’s Goodness-Love for Enemies

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Focus on God’s Goodness is found in Matthew 5:43 to 45.

Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecuted you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Elsewhere, Jesus says that the Most High is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. It takes an extraordinary love to pray for our enemies and do good to them. But when we walk with Jesus, this way of love becomes possible. Jesus practiced what He preached. From the cross, He prayed about His persecutors, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ We had a hand in His death on the cross. We were the reason that He gave His life. God’s justice demanded the shedding of blood for our sins, and God’s love for us sent Jesus to die in our place.

Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love for enemies reveals the goodness of God and is a reason to give thanks in the Year of Gratitude.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com