By Ibrahim Gwanto
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” – Jesus Christ. (John 15:18-19)
People are known by the enemies they have. Every now and then someone will say something like: “Oh Pastor Ibrahim, we love you so much. Everybody loves you.”
When I hear this, I laugh because not everybody loves me. And that doesn’t break my heart.
I don’t expect to be loved by everybody, nor should you. We cannot be popular with a world that crucified our Lord. If His friends are our friends, His enemies are our enemies.
That doesn’t mean we’re not to love our enemies. Jesus loved His enemies. He prayed for those who crucified Him.
I don’t mean we are to be filled with hate and spite.
But the reality is that some people are enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “I tell you weeping that there are enemies” (Philippians 3:18, my paraphrase).
Who would you classify as your enemies?
What does it look like to practically love our enemies?
PRAYER CONFESSION:
Take an inventory of your life. Where are you hating the things Christ hates? Where are you loving the things that He hates? What needs to change? Take time to pray on the above.
Have a victorious Weekend
