A Lesson to Love Your Enemies and Turn the Other Cheek

Way too many people find it hard to love their enemies or to turn the other cheek when openly offended. People cannot seem to comprehend why they should allow mean-spirited people to insult them or take advantage of them and not retaliate as instructed by the gospel of Christ.

Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44.

He also said, “but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:39.

These two instructions from the Lord many people find extremely difficult to fulfill. Especially if a person is used to and taught to defend themselves against such behavior. But if thought about realistically, these incidents do not occur that often, when someone physically smacks you or verbally yells at and assaults you. These are merely perceived things people imagine only in possible scenarios.

Nevertheless, the Lord has a built-in remedy for any situation that could occur. It is His concept of preventative maintenance; like servicing your car regularly to prevent a major breakdown. In other words, the Lord calls on us to have faith in Him first. He asks us to pray always, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:” Matthew 6:13.

If we have faith in Him, we will not be led into situations that are dramatic, conflicting, or controversial or that could lead to physical confrontations. He is there to prevent such occurrences before they start or to keep us from people or situations that would normally bring this type of conflict.

Of course, there are people in your life that will always stalk and harass you for no other reason than they do not like you as a person or who want to see you fail. They lie on you, taunt and persecute you, throw obstacles in your way, and stir up controversy with other people against you. But if you pray against this type of spirit, you can easily see them coming and be ready to ignore their behavior.

Sanctifying yourself from certain situations, lifestyle choices, toxic people, and places of drama helps in keeping your soul against offensive people. Knowing who your enemies are also keeps your spiritual discernment on guard against enemies, violent, and hateful people.

Practicing the fruit of the Spirit and deploying the armor of God helps. (Ephesians 6:12-18). We must stand on truth, always do what is right, extend peace at all times, have faith in His Word and power, know and use the Word, and know that we are a Holy people set aside to help the world, not war against it. Prayer will always be an asset to winning against your enemies.

The Lord will protect us against physical violence, unnecessary persecution, and disturbances to our peace as long as we have faith in Him. But if we come across such people, we must understand that we have to trust Him to fight our battles for us. The Holy Ghost will keep us and help us refrain from physical altercations and verbal assaults if we trust in its power of peace and obey its instruction.

God forbid something happens and brings us to a point of being hit by someone or cussed out in public, but He does give us the leeway to be angry, but not sin. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Ephesians 4:26.

Loving your enemy comes from having an understanding of why they are the way they are. To always see others as human and ally’s first before being seen as an enemy. Realistically, we as individuals do not have many enemies on a personal level, only perceived one. All our enemies are on a worldly level as in how the world hates us for who are as Christians. But rarely do they launch attacks on us unless they feel threatened by our lifestyle. But we cannot help this. If we live Holy, we will always be protected by God.

“I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25.

We cannot allow the world of hate to influence our perception of other people if they are not our true enemies. We cannot judge according to looks, background, nationality or class and income level. We must see people are human first and then our perception of our enemies will become smaller and smaller.

Trusting God to fight our battles helps us to refrain from violence. God will not allow us to be hit, shot, or beaten if we trust that he will intercede from the beginning. If we expect and look for violence, we will certainly encounter it. “he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” Revelation 13:10.