That None Should Perish

May 18, 2026

Starting at Psalms 139:20-22

20 “They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.”
21 “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?”
22 “I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.”
23 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
24 “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

In this passage David expresses his frustration with those who oppose God, and then humbly asks God to examine his own heart and guide him. 

This is the old testament version of how to treat your enemies but then we jump to the new testament where Jesus turns it upside down.

And jumping to Matthew 5:43-48.

Matthew 5:43-48:
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus expands the command to not only love enemies, but to bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you.

This is one of the core commandments from the Sermon on the Mount.

But how do I go from hating someone and wishing harm on them to forgiving them, much less praying and loving them? My old self protests that it goes against human nature! I have a grudge against him/her and I don’t want to let it go! I want to sit with it, hold it close, and nurture it! I DON’T want to let it go!

YOU CANNOT DO IT ON YOUR OWN!

Wait!

What?

How?

In order to forgive, you have to reflect the nature of God, who generously provides blessings (sun and rain) to both the righteous and the unrighteous. Loving only those who love you is easy, but loving your enemies shows a higher, “perfect” standard of grace. 

Here is Jesus’ blueprint for forgiving your enemies.

• Pray for Them: Jesus explicitly links loving your enemies to prayer. Praying for your enemies is the first step because it changes your heart, shifting your focus from bitterness to compassion.
• Do Good to Them: Jesus commanded His followers to “do good” to those who hate them (Luke 6:27-28). This means active kindness and nonviolent defiance rather than returning evil for evil.
• Treat Love as an Action, Not a Feeling: You do not have to “feel” warm, affectionate emotions toward an enemy to love them. Biblically, love is a deliberate choice to seek the ultimate well-being of the other person, choosing patience and forgiveness over revenge.
• Let Go of Retaliation: In Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus commands followers to “turn the other cheek.” This means refusing to let violence or offense dictate your actions, and choosing to respond with grace.

Oh, Lord Jesus! Thank you for taking away the hatred and turning it into love. Thank you for breaking this stone heart of mine and allowing me to be a vessel full of love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness that pours out to others.

AMEN!