This is not an easy lesson to
learn by J. R. Miller. Christ did not so
much give rules for special cases as principles to govern all conduct. I tell you who hear me, love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6, 27. Loving enemies is not a natural
affection. This is not an easy lesson to
learn. It is never easy to be a Christian. The easy way does not lead toward
heaven. The lesson of love continues.
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke
6, 28. These counsels are intensely
practical. In answer to men's cursing, revilings,
and insults, we are to return words of peace, kindness, and
love. Those who mistreat us, we are
to pray for, instead of uttering threats against them, or imprecations
upon them. We remember how Jesus himself
lived out this law of love. There were many who cursed him
and reviled him, but he never lost the sweetness of love out
of his heart. He never on any occasion returned
a word of cursing or anger or even of impatience in response
to the bitterest revilings of his enemies. When he was reviled,
he did not revile in return. When suffering, he did not threaten,
but committed himself to the One who judges justly, 1 Peter
2.23. That is the example for us. We are to be silent when others
speak evil of us or to us, or if we speak, it is to be the
soft answer that turns away wrath. We need not worry ourselves about
the deserts of those who treat us unjustly, feeling that we
should see to their punishment. We are to leave that to God,
who judges righteously and who will take care also that no real
harm shall come to us from the wrongs which others inflict on
us, provided we keep ourselves in His love and in an obedient
spirit. The lesson has its ideal exemplification
in our Lord's prayer on the cross for His murderers. His only answer
to the driving of the nails through His hands and feet was, Father
forgive them, for they know not what they do. That is the way
He wants us to answer the cruelties and injuries which others may
inflict upon us. We must be ready to endure not
one, but many injuries from the others. We must be unresisting,
like our Lord. No wrongs from others should
ever turn our love to hate. Christ's own life was an illustration
of this. He was treated wrongfully at
every step, but his heart never lost its sweetness, its gentleness,
its patience, its desire to bless others and do them good.