In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus points out that our “enemies” are everyone who does not do good to us. There are a lot of people who fit that description. Jesus is saying that if we don’t do good to these people, we treat them like enemies.

Jesus opens our eyes here, and in Luke 10:25-37, to the fact that everyone, everywhere is actually our neighbor.

At first, this command to “love our enemies” sounds like something that will make our lives harder. But when we look closer, we realize that life would be incredible if we were free to love everyone, even those who take advantage of us. Life would be much more beautiful if we were always at peace, especially with those who want to tear us down.

How do we get this kind of peace? By understanding the deeper meaning Jesus is driving home. Paul got it. Paul, the guy who wrote a very large percentage of the New Testament said this about himself: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul was the worst of all sinners? Worse than a rape artist? Worse than Adolf Hitler?

In his mind he was. In his heart, he understood that without Jesus, he would be an enemy of God. He realized this put him on level playing field with all people. We’re all in the same boat. Without Christ, we’re all enemies of God.

But we can become children of God: Not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of what He’s done.

This frees us to love all… to hope that all will come to know Jesus… to help everyone, to the best of our abilities, to follow Christ…