Love Your Enemies

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Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Luke 6:27-28

I imagine sitting in a chair on a Sunday morning listening to a preacher read the words, “Love your enemies…” “Yes”, I say to myself, “I should love my enemies.” I leave the service, and that’s that. Knowledge, but no action. But, to hear and obey, there must be action.

Jesus shows us a better way. Jesus/God was and is complete in himself. And still, Jesus/God came to earth to make a way for all mankind to receive forgiveness for our sins and to be reconciled with Father/God. He comes to earth as a lowly man, knowing full well that he is going to be persecuted and killed unjustly. His love didn’t remain an idea but took shape as embodied action. Jesus came to us, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) His action wasn’t conditional on a favourable outcome either.

Action

If you have an enemy in your life, if someone hates you, consider how Jesus is asking you to go to them? Hearing and obeying requires embodied action.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to love my enemies in real and tangible ways. Help me to trust you with the outcomes.

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About the author

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In 1997 John Hall, his wife Wei, and brother in-law started Eco Outdoor Sports in Metro Vancouver. In 2003 the business was sold, and his family entered a seven-year ‘desert experience’. During that time the Lord impressed on John and his family the importance of hearing and obeying Jesus every day, something that he tries to integrate into everything he does. In 2010 God changed the family’s direction and led him to finish his degree at Regent College in preparation for life as a full-time missionary overseas. That ministry opportunity didn’t develop as planned, as a whole new perspective and participation-in Christ’s mission was born at Missions Fest Vancouver. It’s now a daily occurrence for John’s business background and theological training to get a workout.

John served as the Executive Director at Mission Central (formerly Missions Fest Vancouver) from 2014 to April 2023.

John and Wei live in Richmond, BC. They have two wonderful adult girls. John completed his MA at Regent College in 2010.

Church
Church
The Tapestry Church (Richmond, BC)

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