Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
That’s pretty much the conventional wisdom of the day right? Isn’t it funny how most of the time the only prerequisite we have to liking an individual is first finding out that they like us.
You follow me, and I’ll follow you back.
You love me, and I’ll love you back.
You do me a favor, and I’ll do one for you.
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 persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? – Matthew 5:43-47
This may be one of the most difficult and most ignored passages of Scripture for those of us who claim to follow Jesus.
It takes a lot more courage to love an enemy than attack a enemy.
It takes a lot more time build a relationship with an enemy than to lob an insult toward an enemy.
It takes a lot more courage to sit down and hear an enemy out than to just simply write them off.
And yet this very counter-cultural, going against conventional wisdom is exactly the kind of Kingdom living we’re called to be a part of.
