Love Your Enemies

To be honest with the readers I must confess that I struggle just like anyone in this matter.We often hear that we need to forgive our enemies and extend forgiveness to those who persecute us but when we think of someone who has insulted us, screwed us, betrayed us, deeply hurt our feelings… and the list goes on and on. We might feel victims ourselves and have every right to blame the doer… Here’s a thought and a short testimony that I would like to share for readers to learn how God empowers us to forgive those that we do not want to forgive.

One of our family friends had committed an unthinkable act that was not appropriate but shameful! Our family had to face the consequences due to this individual’s heinous act. As Christ followers and believers, we asked God to intervene in this matter and heal our hearts but no immediate response was seen or heard. The person remained blamed for his wrong doings for three long years. Everyday I used to reiterate my story to God blaming the person but God was giving me Bible verses to teach His way of loving us. On the other hand this person was suffering in his own life and perhaps wanted forgiveness from us, so he left a message on the phone to seek reconciliation. I continued with my day-to-day life/duties. 

Few days later I caught myself singing a song but got stuck on one particular line “forgive our trespasses as we have forgiven those who trespass against us.” Same moment through a Bible app I received daily verse 1 John 4:16 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” At this moment I felt like God was speaking straight to my heart to release the person whom I had held a grudge against for last three years. I believe it was not a coincidence where three things were directing me toward one thing, which was God’s love in forgiveness. Those three things were 1. Text received from the person 2. Daily Bible verse 3. Lyrics of song based on Matthew 6:9.

After couple of days my family got the chance to meet the person. I told myself that this would be the only chance I would get to ask for his forgiveness and in return forgive him for his wrong doings toward my family. This was not an easy process for me as I struggled to forgive this individual and holding a grudge for three long years did not help me to unleash my wrath against him as I calmly whispered in my heart let go and let God!

At that very moment I had to let go of my pride, ego, superiority, self-righteousness etc. and let God’s grace to fill my life to extend forgiveness to the brother. To forgive is to live within the will of God, because forgiveness brings back the lost love between people. All said and done, we had a blessed evening. God helped me to release this person and in return what I received was encouragement and praises from my husband who knew exactly what I was going through. 

To forgive is a process for an individual, a journey that many can choose to end quickly or wander in the wilderness timelessly hoping to forgive! I felt relieved in my spirit and I thanked God for giving me the courage to not only face the person but also forgive in-person. God not only enables us but also empowers us to forgive those that we may not want to forgive. Here’s what I learned from the Bible about forgiveness:- Matthew 5:44-45, 48. “But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His son to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Therefore you shall me perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” 

When Jesus was with his disciples He knew about Judas Iscariot that he was going to betray him, knowing this fact Jesus poured water into a basin and washed his feet and wiped them with the towel that was wrapped around him. By doing so Jesus presents himself as a perfect example of what it means to forgive our enemies.

We need to understand the magnificence of God’s love for us. In conclusion we can not ask God to forgive us unless we have forgiven others because Matthew 6:14 states that if you forgive others when they sin against you, our heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Author - Dimple Stawan Wankhede