Seekers for Jesus. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

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      36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Key Verse:

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27–28, NRSV)

       Today’s Word

      Bullies are everywhere in our society: in our schools, our neighborhoods, maybe even our own families. Your parents/guardians sometimes deal with bullies on their own in the workplace or at social functions. On a national level, you may feel bullied for certain religious or political beliefs. Racism is a prominent form of bullying. With these so-called enemies all around us, what are we supposed to do? Jesus tells us in today’s passage that we are to love our enemies and pray for them. That may seem counterintuitive, so let’s dive into this passage together.

      First of all, by telling us to love our enemies, Jesus was acknowledging that we would, in fact, have enemies. This was not a surprise to Him. Despite the fact that enemies and bullies will always be with us, this does not give us license to be bullies in return or to harbor hate against them. You might see the word love and roll your eyes. Come on, you might be thinking. You don’t know so-and-so. It’s not that simple. Actually, it is. If we’re waiting for the fuzzy, warm feelings of love—like when you love a friend or family member—that day will never come! It’s a different kind of love to react kindly and pray blessings over someone who not only doesn’t deserve it, but also is doing the opposite to you. This love is counter-cultural; it goes against our natural inclinations. That’s why it’s so hard to put this kind of love into action.

       Love your enemies: a simple sentence, but a difficult concept to live out.

      Have you ever watched a group of toddlers? If one has a toy truck and another takes it away from him or her, the first toddler immediately snatches it back. Or if one toddler knocks down another, the fallen one will stand up and shove the instigator back. Retaliation is in our DNA; we have an internal sense of justice: an eye for an eye. We naturally want to do what others have done to us. But Jesus flips that idea on its head in this excerpt. Instead of responding to others according to what they’ve done to us, we’re supposed to treat them how we want to be treated. You may have learned this in kindergarten or grade school. It’s called the golden rule. We must base how we deal with bullies on our own desires and wishes. This needs to become the reality instead of revenge. Is that crazy-difficult? Yes! Jesus didn’t promise that this road was easy. He simply demonstrated the perfect way to live, and the golden rule is part of that lifestyle.

      Do you notice in the Bible that Jesus was bullied? People called Him names and spread rumors that He was a drunk, a madman, a blasphemer of God, and an illegitimate son. Despite His miracles and gentle teachings, Jesus was not a popular man. Many people, particularly the religious elders, hated Him! They plotted to kill Him and eventually succeeded. Whatever bullying you’re currently dealing with, Jesus experienced the same emotions as you. The injustices done to Him were countless and undeserved, yet He still spoke with love and forgiveness to His enemies. Therefore, when we show this kind of love to our enemies, we are walking in Jesus’ footsteps. We are demonstrating our desire to be like Him. We are showing the world that He loved us first, which is the whole reason we’re able to have love or to give love at all. If we love only the people who also love us—such as our family members or friends—what’s the point of that? It’s easy to love those who love you back. But it takes courage and special strength from the Lord to love those who hate you.

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      It’s important to understand that Jesus is not advocating for us to be doormats. He isn’t saying to roll over and let others treat you however they want while you sit there and take it. If someone is physically hurting you or a loved one, go to a trusted adult for help. If someone is verbally abusing you at school, talk to a teacher or guidance counselor. It’s okay to stand up for yourself; no one has the right to violate you or your body. Today’s lesson refers to situations such as bullies teasing you for going to church, spreading rumors about you, or taking things out of your locker. While none of these are good and they certainly don’t make you feel good, you are not physically being harmed. You can pray for those bullies, speak blessings over them, and repay their evil with kindness. These are all excellent ways to demonstrate your Christianity and witness to non-believers. With enough prayer, and thanks to God’s ability to move on the hearts of your enemies, one day they could even become your friends.

      Has something like this ever happened to you before, or to someone you know? Remember that when you look at someone through Jesus’ eyes and see them how He does, it becomes easier to love them. Remember that you, too, are a sinner saved by grace; Jesus chose to love you and chooses to keep loving you every day. In return, we can pass along that love to others. You never know what’s going on in the life of a bully because you can’t see behind the scenes. Your act of kindness and love might be the only one they experience that day. In this way, Jesus can use you for His glory and power. Isn’t that an encouraging thought? Try to remember this on days when loving your enemies is particularly difficult.

      Judy was fuming when she walked in from school.

      “What’s wrong, baby?” her dad asked, peeling potatoes.

      Judy grunted as she threw her book bag down. “Tina started this horrible rumor about me at school! She told people that I wet the bed, can you believe it? By the end of the day, everyone was pointing at me and whispering.” Judy crossed her arms. “It was completely humiliating, and I don’t know how I’ll show my face tomorrow.”

      “That’s terrible!” Dad said. “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”

      Judy sniffed. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just start a rumor about Tina tomorrow and get even.”

      Judy’s dad stopped what he was doing. “Now wait a minute. Is that how we’re supposed to deal with our enemies?”

      “Maybe not,” answered Judy, “but it sure would make me feel better.”

      “We don’t make decisions based on how we feel,” said Dad. “We make them based on what the Bible says. Pastor was just talking about this a few weeks ago, remember? We’re to love our enemies and be kind to them. Kill ‘em with kindness, as they say.”

      Judy sighed. “Okay. Can I make some cookies to give Tina?”

      Her dad grinned. “That’s my girl! I’ll even help you.”

      In today’s passage, Jesus instructed His listeners to love their enemies and be nice to those who hated them. This goes against our nature, and it’s a counter-cultural idea. It would be easier to just be nice to those who are nice to us, right? While that’s easier, it’s not the way Jesus intended us to live. We would be no different from the rest of the world if we did that. How would people know the difference between believers and non-believers?

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