Love Like That
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” – Matthew 5:44
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus consistently raises the bar on what it means to follow Him. He tells His audience not just to walk the extra mile or to refuse retaliation, but to go even further by loving their enemies. Then He takes it to a level most weren’t ready for. He says to pray for those who persecute you. That was a radical idea then, and for most of us, it still is.
You see, Jesus was not just talking about mild disagreements. He was speaking to people who were mistreated, targeted, and oppressed by Roman authorities. The idea of loving someone who mocks you, betrays you, or actively works against you feels unnatural. That’s because it is. But Jesus doesn’t call us to respond with what’s natural. He calls us to respond with what is supernatural.
There’s a word in Scripture for that kind of love. It’s not friendly or romantic or just family-based. It’s called agape. This is the love Jesus shows us. It’s unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial. It is love with no strings attached. And it’s the kind of love we’re called to give even to the people who treat us the worst.
Maybe you’ve heard stories like the one about the Christian woman whose neighbor hated everything about her. He hated her Bible, her faith, even her chickens. One day, when her chicken crossed into his yard, he snapped its neck and threw it back over the fence. She didn’t retaliate. Instead, she showed up with a hot bowl of chicken and dumplings. That unexpected act of grace softened his heart and led him to Christ.
That’s agape love. That’s what it looks like to love like Jesus. It doesn’t mean you agree with everything or pretend the pain isn’t real. It means you refuse to mirror the hate you’ve received. You choose grace instead of revenge. You choose prayer instead of bitterness.
And no, you can’t do it alone. But through the Holy Spirit, you can pray for your persecutors. You can ask God to bless them, seek their good, and intercede for their hearts to change. That kind of love is how the world will know you belong to Jesus.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus consistently raises the bar on what it means to follow Him. He tells His audience not just to walk the extra mile or to refuse retaliation, but to go even further by loving their enemies. Then He takes it to a level most weren’t ready for. He says to pray for those who persecute you. That was a radical idea then, and for most of us, it still is.
You see, Jesus was not just talking about mild disagreements. He was speaking to people who were mistreated, targeted, and oppressed by Roman authorities. The idea of loving someone who mocks you, betrays you, or actively works against you feels unnatural. That’s because it is. But Jesus doesn’t call us to respond with what’s natural. He calls us to respond with what is supernatural.
There’s a word in Scripture for that kind of love. It’s not friendly or romantic or just family-based. It’s called agape. This is the love Jesus shows us. It’s unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial. It is love with no strings attached. And it’s the kind of love we’re called to give even to the people who treat us the worst.
Maybe you’ve heard stories like the one about the Christian woman whose neighbor hated everything about her. He hated her Bible, her faith, even her chickens. One day, when her chicken crossed into his yard, he snapped its neck and threw it back over the fence. She didn’t retaliate. Instead, she showed up with a hot bowl of chicken and dumplings. That unexpected act of grace softened his heart and led him to Christ.
That’s agape love. That’s what it looks like to love like Jesus. It doesn’t mean you agree with everything or pretend the pain isn’t real. It means you refuse to mirror the hate you’ve received. You choose grace instead of revenge. You choose prayer instead of bitterness.
And no, you can’t do it alone. But through the Holy Spirit, you can pray for your persecutors. You can ask God to bless them, seek their good, and intercede for their hearts to change. That kind of love is how the world will know you belong to Jesus.
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