As a young man I worked in an auto body repair shop painting cars. I had a good friend who was somewhat older than me and he was really good at auto body work. He showed me the ropes and we worked closely together as I learned the trade. Then, BOOM I became a Christian! Although my friend was quite religious and went to his false gospel church regularly, he did not appreciate this new reality in my life. He began to mock my newfound faith and said to me, "You have messed in your own nest" (only with more vulgar language). Don't you EVER come and ask me for help again!"

This man who had been such a good friend now had total disdain for me (cf. Jn. 15:18-19). Coming into the shop in the morning I would say, "Good Morning" and he would turn his head the other way and say nothing. This went on for months. He would not even so much as look at me. As a brand new Christian I started memorizing 3 verses each day. As a child my dear mother had made me memorize Scripture in order to get my allowance, so when I got saved I thought this is what Christians should do. One of the verses that I memorized at that time was Matthew 5:44.

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

As I memorized this verse I tried to apply it. This is no easy feat, and without God's help we cannot consistently do it. Note the STRONG emphasis here.

* love your enemies
*bless those who curse you
*do good to those who hate you
*pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

That my friends is supernatural living! It runs against ever "natural" fiber in our body. I often see professing Christians spewing out what amounts to HATRED for the lost of the world. Yes, they do STUPID things, but we are to love them. That doesn't mean we agree with them, but it does affect our attitude toward them. Love genuinely seeks their highest good in light of eternity. Yes, they have total disregard for us, but we are to bless them. To bless means to speak well of, to wish well upon. Yes, they hate us, but we are to do good to them. Yes, they grossly mistreat us, but we are to pray for them.

As Christians we are never more Christlike than when we love our enemies (cf. Rom. 5:8-10). Let that sink in! Christ loved His enemies which you and I previously were, and apart from an intervention of His amazing GRACE we still would be.

Evil for good is Satan-like.
Good for good is man-like.
Good for evil is God-like.

Back to the story in the body shop. One day my "friend" had a problem and there was no one else who could easily help him with it but me. In this situation I was shocked when he asked me if I would do him this favor and help him out. I was GLAD to do it and it broke the ice. We never again were close friends but from there on out he was civil to me. Forty years later I still am praying for him.

Our calling as Christians is to be CHRIST-LIKE. Before God the issue is not always about who is right or wrong, often it is about who is the most CHRIST-LIKE. This is what God wants to see and it is what the world needs to see! Anyone can love their friends. Even the world does this. But to love our enemies - that is a GOD-THING!

Romans 12:21 (NKJV)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Titus 3:2 (NKJV)
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.