Matthew 5:43-48 NIVUK
43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This stands alongside yesterday’s passage where we are called to use our freedom to stand against oppression and injustice without resorting to violence. Alongside that we are called to love without prejudice, to love both our friends and our enemies. Protest without love quickly becomes hatred and its own form of oppression. Jesus calls us to a better way, to act against injustice for the benefit of the oppressed and the oppressor. This is genuinely radical and different.
Father, teach me what it means to truly, actively, love.
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