“You Want Me to Love…Them?!”

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season: Jesus’ Sermon on the Mountain
Episode 5: “You Want Me to Love…Them?!””
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 5:38-48

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXJw_zwpUI (Iesodo – Love Your Enemies)

“Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44, NLT)

Jesus told His followers that, because He had loved them enough to die for them, they should love others too. Loving people who love us can be easy, but Jesus didn’t stop there. He told us we are to love everyone…even people who are mean to us. The reason is because Jesus loved us while we were still His enemies. Therefore, how can we say ‘No’ to loving our enemies, when Jesus loved us before we were His friends. He is serious about wanting us to treat others the way we want to be treated…in fact, the way He has already treated us.

Think about it...
• Jesus told us we are to love our enemies…people who are mean to us. Can you think of someone who is difficult to love, but Jesus wants you to?
• If receiving God’s love required that we were good people, none of us would. What does Romans 5:8 tell us about God’s love? “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
• God wants us to treat others the way we’ve been treated. Why would it be a bad idea not to?
• Remember that person who is hard to love? What could you do to treat them in a way that would please God?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, for loving me before I even knew you. I have made many mistakes, but because you love me, you will forgive me. Help me to treat others the way I’ve been treated—by being loving, gracious and forgiving.
~ Pastor Jane