The Lord spoke these words to His people:
"My people, My people, My people, don’t be carried away by hatred and unforgiveness in this world. Don’t be carried away by envy and bitterness in this world. Receive My love instead, and learn to love with compassion and pity."
And the Lord spoke further:
"Let there be a flow of My love like a river in you and through you! For My love has been poured out upon you through the Holy Spirit. When everything else in this world fails, My love for you never fails. So, receive My love from heaven and let it flow, and yes, you’ll even be able to love your enemies, just as I have spoken to you before in the Word!"
Romans 5:5 (NKJV) says, 'Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us'.
Romans 5:5 (Expanded Bible) puts it this way, 'And this hope will never disappoint us [let us down; or put us to shame; dishonor us], because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts [or flooded our hearts with His love]. He gave us His love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us'.
There is too much hatred, unforgiveness, envy and bitterness happening in the world right now. As the beloved of God, it is important that we do not get distracted and get carried away by all these. Instead, the Lord wants you to look to Him and receive His love, just as Romans 5:5 says.
This love doesn't come like a trickle, but this love has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. As you receive His love and choose to love, this love is going to flow like a river in you and through you.
1 John 4:7-9 (NKJV) says, 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him'.
The word 'love' here is 'agape' in Greek, and it means 'love, or benevolence (i.e. an act of kindness or the inclination to be kind)'.
You see, not only do we love in word or in tongue, but we also love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:16-19), because 'agape' can also mean 'an act of kindness or the inclination to be kind'.
In fact, here's what the Lord Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:43-47, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"
So, who are your enemies?
Generally speaking, enemies are those who are against you or oppose you because you are doing what God says for you to do. Yet Jesus Himself says 'love your enemies'. It means you are to forgive and not return evil with evil. Instead, return evil with good (Romans 12:21). Jesus Himself prayed this when He was crucified, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)
Sometimes an enemy is an enemy only for a time. God is great, and He can change an enemy in His perfect timing and perfect way. Therefore, don't hate them. Instead, pray for them. Ask God to give you the patience in times of persecution against you. And ask God to give you the grace to see these enemies from the eyes of God's love and compassion.
But... Who are your real enemies?
Matthew 5:43-47 must be read together with Ephesians 6:12 that says, 'For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places'.
