This morning during my Bible reading I re-read the “Sermon on the Mount” (specifically in Matthew chapter 5). The verses that stood out to me were verses 44-45…

NIV “44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Rain is not a negative thing. We sometimes view a rainy day as a bad day. Or we use the phrase “When it rains it pours.” meaning of course that when something bad happens, other bad things will accompany it.

But in an agricultural society like in Jesus’ time, rain was a blessing. So verse 45 could read; “…he gives good days to good people, and evil people. He sends blessings to the good and the bad.”

I have to admit that years ago when I first heard this concept, I struggled with it. I would think, “Why does God give blessings to the unrighteous?” I get the first part. Sometimes God allows good days (sun to shine) on the evil and the good, but this viewpoint says that God goes beyond just good days and he actually blesses the unrighteous (or unjust -NLT).

It is then that I am forced to read verse 44 again. As difficult as it is NOT to hate our enemies, we are called to go beyond that. It may be a good thing to “not hate” our enemies, but we are to continue to show Christ’s love and bless our enemies by loving them and praying for them. By doing this, you are aligning yourself with them so that the next time the rain falls on them, some will fall on you as well.

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