We don’t have to like everyone

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

- Matthew 5:43-48

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, a U.S. holiday dedicated to the memory of the massively influential civil rights activist. 

Today is actually his birthday, too! (January 15, 1929)

Did you know that he was also a Baptist minister? 

He was the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior.

He believed that civil rights could be achieved without violence, based on his Christian beliefs.

Today’s verse is from his 1957 sermon “Loving Your Enemies”.

Here is an excerpt:

…it’s significant that he does not say, “Like your enemy.” Like is a sentimental something, an affectionate something. There are a lot of people that I find it difficult to like. I don’t like what they do to me. I don’t like what they say about me and other people. I don’t like their attitudes. I don’t like some of the things they’re doing. I don’t like them. But Jesus says love them. And love is greater than like. Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men, so that you love everybody, because God loves them. You refuse to do anything that will defeat an individual, because you have agape in your soul. And here you come to the point that you love the individual who does the evil deed, while hating the deed that the person does. This is what Jesus means when he says, “Love your enemy.” This is the way to do it. When the opportunity presents itself when you can defeat your enemy, you must not do it.

Think about this . . .

We don’t have to like everyone.

But we do have to love them.

And that is hard sometimes . . . boy, oh boy, oh boy, is it hard sometimes.

I want to do what God asks of me though, so I will do my best.

What enemy can you love today?

Have a blessed day!