“love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; in order that you may be sons of you Father” Matthew 5:44-45
Sons – Why does Jesus ask us to sacrifice ourselves for those who hate us or pray for those who seek to harm us? Did you think he was promoting a “higher” morality? Was he advocating a global ethical standard? Not likely! Jesus had only one thing in mind: to reflect who God is.
Reflecting God’s character is the passion of Jesus’ life. From the moment he arrived, his objective was to show us the Father. Every action he took, every word he said was designed to bring about that end. If human beings were unable to see the heart of God in the fire on Mount Sinai, then maybe they would see the God who pursued them in the life of His son. So, the “ethics” of Jesus is not really a set of ethical rules at all. It is really a demonstration in human form of what God is like.
Sons are reflections of their fathers. They learn about life by watching and copying. They take on the same attitudes, the same actions, the same visions and goals as the men who raised them. It is God’s plan that fathers serve Him with such devotion and energy that their sons see the heart of God in the lives of their dads. God’s believes that the most effective teaching tool is the gospel written in my life. But the reality is that we fathers often do a very bad job of showing our sons who God is through our lives. So Jesus reminds us: your actions reflect your lineage. If you want to be a son of the Father, reflect what the Father does.
And God loves His enemies and prays for those who persecute Him. God sacrifices Himself for those who hate Him and He seeks the well-being of those who wish Him harm. Do you want to see this in action? Read the account of Jesus on the cross. “Father, forgive them”. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Yes, the Son does reflect the heart of the Father.
Who is your enemy today? Who wishes you harm or hates you? Have you made a list? What will you do today that will reflect the heart of the Father and make you a son?



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