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27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31 NIV) Dear Friend, a most wonderful of days to you this day! Receive from God that which you need; share with God that which you need most; and share with all love that has been freely given to you. Remove from your life that which has set boundaries as to whom you could/should/will love, and with a red marker, in big letters, write on your heart: Love everyone!
Jesus, if we let Him, can really mess up our lives. We sometimes want to ask, "Lord, can't you leave well enough alone?" And His loving answer would be no. "If I leave you to your own and your own set ways, you will continue along the path of certain destruction; and I have come that you might have life, and that to the fullest." As Jesus was teaching in this passage, He speaks about loving those whom we find easy to hate; our enemies. As individuals we do have enemies, perhaps not on the scale of country versus country, but nonetheless, we face those who would like nothing more than to see us humiliated, or to fail, or worse. For some those enemies may live rent-free in our minds; others do have real life people who do not like us and want us to be failures. Yet, Jesus says, we are to love them, and harder still, to "do good to those who hate you." Wait. What? Lord, are you serious? We would like nothing more than to see them be harmed, and you want us to help them? And then Jesus makes the list longer! "Bless those who curse you." And, "Pray for those who mistreat you." Again, we think, wait! What? "If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them." Sigh. Lord, you're making my life so difficult now. And still, Jesus continues, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
In this passage, Jesus calls us to love in a way that challenges our natural instincts. We’re told to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us. In an often divisive world, this teaching stands as an epiphany—an awakening to a higher way of living. The world teaches us to respond in kind: to love those who love us, to seek revenge on those who wrong us. But Jesus flips this upside down and invites us to live a love that transcends what’s natural and human.
When we love our enemies and bless those who curse us, we align ourselves with the heart of God. This love is not about feelings or reciprocity but a choice to reflect God’s divine nature in a broken world. Jesus modeled this perfectly—on the cross, He prayed for the very people who nailed Him there. He embodied this radical love, showing us that it is possible to love unconditionally, even when it feels impossible.
The epiphany comes when we realize that our ability to love in this way isn’t about our own strength or willpower, but about allowing God’s love to flow through us. It’s a revelation of who God is and a revelation of what we’re called to be as His followers.
What happens when we live out this kind of love? It changes everything. It disrupts cycles of hatred and bitterness. It opens the door for reconciliation and healing. It brings the presence of God into every situation, transforming not just the ones we love but also our own hearts. This love leads us to a place of deeper intimacy with God, as we reflect His character in our actions.
As we walk in the love of God, we also find that we become less concerned with receiving in return. Jesus says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." When we live this way, we invite others into the grace and kindness that God has freely given us, and in doing so, we become part of the beautiful cycle of God's kingdom breaking forth in the world.
PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for revealing to us a love that goes beyond what we can comprehend. Help us to see others as You see them, even those who may hurt or oppose us. Fill our hearts with the courage to love unconditionally, to bless, and to do good even in the face of adversity. May Your love shine through us, bringing peace, healing, and reconciliation wherever we go. Empower us to live as reflections of Your heart, showing the world the beauty of loving like You. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, look for opportunities to love someone who may not seem easy to love. It might be a person who has hurt you, someone you disagree with, or even a stranger. Choose to bless them with kindness, pray for them, and do good even when it feels difficult. Allow God's love to transform not just your actions, but your heart as well.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
