Forgiving Our Enemies

“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 (KJV)

This past week, like many Americans, I sat quietly and watched the Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk. It was a moment heavy with emotion—a time to honor a life marked by conviction and courage, and to reflect on the spiritual state of our nation. Throughout the four-hour service, voices from across our government spoke words that were often stirring, sometimes solemn, and occasionally surprising in their spiritual tone. I found myself wondering: were these expressions born of genuine belief, or were they crafted for political gain? Perhaps both. But regardless of motive, they were words our nation needed to hear—words that pointed, however briefly, to eternal things.

After the service ended, my heart was still searching. I was drawn to revisit a sermon preached by John MacArthur in 2013 titled “How to Think and Act in Evil Days.” The timing felt providential. In light of recent events, this message carries a weight that every believer must reckon with. It’s not merely a call to awareness—it’s a summons to spiritual clarity, courage, and biblical conviction.

In days like these, we cannot afford to drift. We must anchor ourselves in truth, think biblically, and act with urgency. I invite you to listen, reflect, and share this message. The hour is late, but the gospel is still powerful—and the church must be ready.

In the wake of national grief and spiritual reflection, I found myself wrestling with a deeper question: How do we respond to those who oppose us—not just politically, but spiritually? The memorial service stirred many emotions, but it was John MacArthur’s sermon that brought clarity. In evil days, we are not called to retreat or retaliate. We are called to reflect Christ.

Matthew 5:44 is not a suggestion—it is a command. And it is one of the most radical, countercultural commands in all of Scripture. Love your enemies. Bless them. Do good to them. Pray for them. These are not natural responses. They are supernatural ones. They require a heart transformed by grace and a mind renewed by truth.

We live in a time when enemies are easily named and quickly condemned. Social media rewards outrage. Politics thrives on division. Even within the church, bitterness can masquerade as boldness. But Jesus calls us higher. He calls us to love in a way that defies logic and demands humility.

Forgiveness is not weakness. It is warfare. It is how we fight the darkness—not with swords, but with surrender. Not with vengeance, but with virtue. When we forgive, we declare that Christ is enough. That His justice is perfect. That His mercy is ours to extend.

This is not easy. It is not comfortable. But it is necessary. Because the gospel is not just about being forgiven—it is about becoming forgivers. And in a world that is watching how Christians respond to hostility, our witness depends on our willingness to obey Matthew 5:44.

So today, I urge you: pray for those who mock your faith. Bless those who betray your trust. Love those who stand against everything you believe. Not because they deserve it—but because Christ did it first.

The days are evil. The hour is urgent. But the command remains: Love your enemies.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You humbled by the weight of Your Word and the call to love as You have loved us. In a world filled with division, hostility, and confusion, help us to be vessels of grace. Teach us to forgive—not in our strength, but in Yours. Give us hearts that bless when cursed, hands that serve when wronged, and voices that pray when persecuted.

Lord, we confess that loving our enemies is not easy. But we know it is holy. So we ask for Your Spirit to soften what is hardened, to heal what is wounded, and to guide what is wandering. Let our lives reflect the mercy of Christ, who forgave even from the cross.

May our witness be bold, not in anger, but in compassion. May our convictions be firm, not in pride, but in truth. And may our love be unmistakable—a light in dark days, a testimony to Your transforming power.

We pray this not for comfort, but for obedience. Not for applause, but for Your glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.