This is just an amazing set of scriptures. Jesus really challenges us to be different as we follow Him. He knows our hearts need to change and the world needs to be something we don’t focus on. There are going to be people of all different beliefs and practices but we need to pray for them and love them because in the beginning God created everything. Every living human needs to see the light of Jesus in us because we claim to be His followers. If we don’t love our enemies how will they see that accepting Jesus matters? How will they get their focus off the world?
We can’t make people change their hearts but we can plant the seeds of love and truth about Jesus and we can water the seeds by our actions in all situations. Look at this quote from Mike Breen in his book, “Building a Discipling Culture.” “Don’t live your life continuously calling other people to account for their actions. Instead, live your life in the recognition that you will be called to account. Hypocrites look for faults in others and miss their own faults.”
When we care for people enough we grow and we understand that it’s not us against them it’s us against the sinful nature. Jesus makes the biggest challenge in the last verse of Matthew chapter 5 by saying, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Warren Wiersbe puts it this way. “The word ‘perfect’ in this verse does not imply sinlessly perfect, for that would be impossible in this life (though it would be a good goal to strive for). It suggests completeness, maturity, as the Sons of God. The Father loves His enemies and seeks to make them His children, and we should assist Him!”
We need to continue to grow with others so we can be who God created us to be, His children. Amen