We live in a world filled with division, hostility, and hatred toward those who think differently, oppose us, or have hurt us. It is easy to love those who love us, agree with us, and treat us well, but what about those who mistreat us, reject us, or stand against us? In Matthew 5:43–48, Jesus challenges the way we think about love by commanding His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. This kind of love goes against our natural instincts, but it reflects the very heart of our heavenly Father, who shows kindness even to those who oppose Him. The truth is that we were once enemies of God, yet He demonstrated His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. As we continue our Best Sermon Ever series, we will discover that loving our enemies is not optional for followers of Christ; it is evidence of a heart transformed by the grace of God. So, how do we love those who are difficult to love, and what does that love look like in our everyday lives? Let’s turn to Matthew 5:43–48 and hear Jesus’ call to love our neighbors and our enemies.
11 Oct 2026
Pressing Pause
In a world that constantly tells us to work harder, do more, and prove our worth, it is easy to approach the Christian life as though God’s love depends on how well we perform. As we continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we have encountered Jesus’ challenging call to live with humility, purity, mercy, and love—even toward those who hurt us. But what do we do when we sincerely want to follow Jesus and repeatedly fall short? In Galatians 2:20, Paul reminds us that the Christian life is not about trying harder in our own strength, but about dying to self and trusting Christ to live His life through us. Our acceptance rests not on our performance, but on the finished work of Jesus, and our power to live faithfully comes from Him. Sometimes, we need to press pause, stop striving to prove ourselves, and remember that the key to living for Christ is learning to depend on Christ who lives in us.
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