Romans 12:17-21

Mom caught Billy leaving the house with a big stick. “Where are you going Billy?” she asked. He answered, “My Sunday school teacher told us we should love our enemies. I don’t have any, so I’m going out to make some.”

In a perfect world, we would never have to deal with enemies. We would not need to feed them or love them, because we would not have them. However, we do not live in a perfect world. At the same time, for most of us, our world is nothing like what the Roman Christians were living in. The Christians in Rome were struggling to overcome lifelong prejudices. They were struggling to love their fellow Christians. That was hard enough, now Paul tells them they also have to love their enemies. Their enemies were not passive aggressive enemies. Their enemies were very active; they were very aggressive. They were burning Christians alive. They would take Christians prisoners and feed them to the lions in the coliseum. They would beat Christians on the streets. Most of us will never have to face this type of enemy.

This type of enemy still exists today in many countries around the world. In some countries, it is still illegal to be a Christian. In the Middle East, the enemies of Christianity have firebombed churches and beheaded Christians. Christians in these places can understand just how difficult it is to love your enemies. They know what it means to love those who persecute them. Someone firebombs your church, and God tells you to bless them. You have to love them, and take actions that sincerely aim to achieve what is best for them.

I had someone lie about me to get a promotion I should have received. I had a neighbor who was constantly parking in my assigned parking. I knew someone who would tell stories to embarrass others. God required the church at Rome to love their enemies. He will accept nothing less from us for those who are merely frustrations.