Seeing Clearly

Scripture- “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” Matthew 5:43 (ESV)

Devotional- By the time of Jesus, people had drawn a conclusion from God’s Law that He never actually commanded. If they were required to love their neighbor, then they must be free to hate their enemy.

Jesus exposes that way of thinking.

The challenge for us is that “enemy” doesn’t always look dramatic. It may not be someone openly hostile. It might be someone we avoid, resent, or quietly dismiss. It could be a person whose name changes our tone, or a group we’ve written off entirely.

Jesus brings this into the light…not to condemn us, but to transform us.

We can’t love our enemies if we refuse to acknowledge who they are.

Reflection- Is there a person or group you tend to avoid, resent, or dismiss? What makes it hard to see them differently?

Prayer Direction- Ask God to give you clarity and honesty about your attitudes, even where it feels uncomfortable.

(Daily Devotionals are based on the most recent Sunday Message presented at The Refuge)