Good morning, friends.

Let’s talk about one of the hardest things Jesus ever asked us to do: love our enemies.

Many reasons exist in today’s world to dislike people. War, political conflicts, criminal activity on the rise, etc, but I say to you, challenge what you’re feeling and try something new.

Now, I know that’s not an easy ask. It’s natural to want to push back when we’re hurt, to fight back when we’re wronged. That’s the way the world usually works, right? If someone strikes you, you strike back. If someone betrays you, you cut them out of your life. But Jesus came along and told us there’s a better way—a way that’s harder, but so much more powerful.

Let’s go back to one of the most tense moments in Jesus’ life. He’s in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knows what’s coming. The soldiers arrive to arrest Him, and His disciples—who love Him fiercely—panic. Peter, always the first to act, draws his sword and lashes out, striking the servant of the high priest. In that moment, you can feel the fear, the anger, the sense of injustice. If ever there was a time to fight, this would be it.

But Jesus stops him. He says, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” And then, incredibly, He heals the man who was hurt. Think about that for a moment. In the face of violence, Jesus chooses peace. In the face of betrayal, He chooses love. He teaches us that real strength isn’t found in retaliation, but in compassion.

Over and over, Jesus told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Not just tolerate them, not just avoid them—love them. Bless them. Pray for them. That’s probably the most radical thing He said.

Why? Why should we love people who hurt us? Why pray for people who seem to be against everything we stand for?

Here’s the truth: anybody can love their friends. Anybody can be kind to people who are kind to them. But loving your enemies—that’s what sets you apart. That’s how the world knows you follow Jesus. It takes real courage, real humility, real trust in God to do that.

And let’s be honest: it’s not easy. It’s not natural. When someone does something wrong to you, everything inside you wants to hold onto anger, to protect yourself, to make them pay. When I think about how Judas betrayed Jesus and how Caiaphas targeted Jesus, I admit, I love to imagine both of them suffering in Hell for what they did, that is a normal HUMAN reaction in response to hurt. But Jesus asks us to lay all that down—not because what they did was right, but because holding onto hate will eat you alive. When you respond to hate with love, you’re not letting them off the hook—you’re setting yourself free.

Jesus knew what it was to be betrayed, to be lied about, to be hurt by people He loved. He knew that love is not about weakness or letting others walk all over you. No, love is the strongest thing there is. It takes more strength to pray for someone who’s hurt you than to fight them. Anybody can throw a punch. But it takes the spirit of God to fall to your knees and pray for someone who’s done you wrong.

When Peter raised his sword, he thought he was defending Jesus. But violence only breeds more violence. Anger only breeds more anger. Jesus calls us to break that cycle.

Let’s remember something else: we’re not the judges. When someone does something bad, that’s their karma, their burden, their story to answer for. God sees everything. He knows every heart, every motive, every secret. Our judgment doesn’t mean a thing in the end. We’re not called to be the jury or the executioner. We’re called to love, to forgive, to trust that God will sort things out in His own time.

Think about the words Jesus spoke from the cross—when He was in agony, surrounded by people who mocked Him, betrayed Him, hated Him. He looked up to heaven and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That’s the heart of God. That’s the example we’re called to follow.

So what does this look like in real life?

It means praying for the coworker who spreads lies about you. It means refusing to lash out at the family member who hurt you. It means letting go of the need to get even. It means asking God to soften your heart toward people you don’t understand, or maybe even people you can’t stand.

And it means trusting that, even when you don’t see justice right away, God is still at work. Nothing slips past Him. He knows what’s fair, and He will make things right, even if it doesn’t happen on our timeline.

It also means showing Jesus the respect and love he deserves for all he went through on our behalf. He knew what was coming; he knew the betrayal and yet he still went through that horrible situation, for US, for our souls. As hard as it is and trust me I struggle with it daily and I don’t always succeed, but when I think of the sacrifice Jesus made for me, for all of us, it makes me want to try harder and do better to do as he taught.

This kind of love doesn’t come naturally. It’s not something you can just will yourself into. It comes from spending time with God, letting His love change you from the inside out. The more you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, the easier it is to forgive others. The more you experience God’s patience with you, the more patient you become with others.

So, friends, I invite you: next time you’re hurt, next time someone crosses you, take a breath. Remember Peter and his sword. Remember Jesus’ words. Ask God to give you the strength to love, even when it’s the last thing you want to do.

That’s how the world changes. That’s how hearts are healed. That’s how people see Jesus in you.

Let’s pray:

God, give us the strength to love as You love. Help us to forgive, to bless, to pray for our enemies, even when it’s hard. Remind us that You are the Judge, and that our job is simply to love. Change our hearts, God, so that the world may know we are Yours—not by how well we fight, but by how deeply we love. Amen.