“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”—Luke 6:32–36 (NIV)

I’ve always been quick to believe the best about people, even those others might call their enemies. I try to see the glass half full instead of half empty! But it’s one thing to say that and another to live it. Loving friends and those who love us back is easy—but what about those who dislike us or work against us? Loving them is far more difficult. Yet Jesus challenges us here to a higher standard: to have compassion that goes beyond comfort. 

Notice the three things Jesus commands: Love them. Do good to them. Lend without expecting anything back. That teaching was just as radical in His day as it is in ours. In Jesus’ world, relationships were built on reciprocity—you loved and honored those who loved and honored you. It was about mutual benefit. But what benefit came from loving an enemy? 

In an honor-shame culture, showing kindness to someone who wronged you looked like weakness, not strength. To love a soldier, a tax collector, or a ruler who exploited people was shocking. We have to understand that Jesus wasn’t just trying to give us a nice moral tip; He was turning the world upside down. 

And today? Culture says, “Cancel those who hurt you. Only give if you’ll get something back. Fight fire with fire.” But Jesus says, “Forgive. Give freely. Overcome evil with good.” And that’s costly. That means compassion will always require sacrifice—of convenience, pride, and comfort. 

This is the heart of the gospel. God loved us when we were ungrateful and undeserving. As Romans 5:8 (NIV) tells us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He gave without expecting repayment, and He calls us to mirror His mercy: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36 NIV). 

So, let me ask: Who in your life might God be calling you to love, even though it feels uncomfortable? What would it look like if you started looking at your enemies as opportunities?

Pause: Take a moment to reflect on how Jesus has loved you when you didn’t deserve it—when you were ungrateful, stubborn, or far from Him. That same mercy He extended to you is the mercy He calls you to extend to others. Who are the “hard-to-love” people in your life right now? Maybe it’s someone who’s hurt you, ignored you, or spoken against you. What might change if, instead of reacting out of pain or pride, you chose to respond with the mercy of your Father?

Practice: This week, put love into action by doing something kind for someone who’s difficult to love—no strings attached. It could be sending an encouraging text to someone who’s criticized you, praying daily for an enemy, or doing a small act of service for a person who’s ignored you. Don’t wait for them to change; let God change your heart first. Remember: mercy doesn’t make you weak—it makes you look like Jesus.

Pray: Our Father, Most High God, whose mercy is anchored in steadfast, unfailing, and enduring love, we thank You for Your love toward us. Lord, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to reveal Your radical love. Make us into a church known not by the world’s definition of love, but by a selfless love that reflects Yours. Teach us to love radically, as You have loved us. Place Your love deep in our hearts, that we may see even acquiring enemies as opportunities to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Make us a people who do good. Make us like Jesus. Lord, make us seekers not of the rewards of this life but of the rewards of heaven. Renew our minds to the values of Your kingdom. May Your church be fortified in You—in Your love, provision, protection, and sovereignty—so we might live lives that look radically different from the world. Forgive us when we have prioritized our comfort and withheld from others in order to protect ourselves from loss. We repent for holding tightly to the ways of this world. Holy Spirit, help us to love mercy, to build treasure in heaven, to seek the approval of God alone, and to reflect the nature of our Father—loving even the ungrateful and the wicked. Show us the people You’ve placed in our lives to love in Your name. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.