The Freedom of Loving Your Enemies

When the U.S. was fighting in Iraq, 90% of wounded American soldiers survived because of advances in medicine and protective gear (source). 

New technologies were created specifically for war injuries, but those technologies have benefited everyone, not just wounded soldiers, a Romans 8:28 result of war.

During the war, I visited a military hospital, and an Army nurse who was stationed in Iraq told me he frequently saw American medical teams treating injured Iraqi soldiers. 

I thought that was incredible—healing enemies who minutes earlier had tried to kill them. What an amazing example of Luke 6:27-36: 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.… Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  

This puts our own mistreatment in perspective and gives us the courage to do the same with our personal enemies.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.… Do not repay anyone evil for evil.… Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.… On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:14-21

I think you'll enjoy the true story in Deadly Revenge and the wisdom from Psalm 143 in 6 Ways to Fight Our Enemies.

BLN