Developing Family Traits
I was recently reunited with a childhood friend on Facebook. I have not spoken to this person for twenty years. As we begun the process of getting to know one another, he was surprised to hear about my faith and my vocation. He was quick to admit that he has not had the best experiences with Christians. I asked him to share with me a couple of adjectives that describe his view and experience of Christians. His list included the words isolated and cold. In the text this week, we hear Jesus call us to a very different way of living than the one my old friend has experienced, and Jesus could not be more clear. The words in Matthew 5:43-48 offer adjectives in response as Jesus calls for us to be engaged and warm towards the world, specifically our enemy.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect
Matthew 5:43-48
We are not called to tolerate our enemies but to love them. Isn’t this just like Jesus? He seems to always call us to a higher level then what is natural for us. Being able to love our enemy could be one of the hardest calls for the Christian to live (I know it is for me).
Yet, how we do this has a direct relationship in how the world will know to whom we belong. How we love our enemy shows who God is and who we are as his children. Wanting to be like our Father and wanting to carry on his identity and the “family traits” is where Matthew 5: 43-48 takes us. As we hear the tough words from Jesus, may we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and the courage to follow Him.
Jeff Mattesich
Associate Pastor of Student Ministries
