Loving Our Enemies
By Tracy Smith
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your Father in heaven…”
Matthew
5:43-45a (NIV)
Recently, I came across a post on
Facebook talking about something that happened over 20 years ago. It was the
picture that goes along with the post that caught my eye; it’s difficult to describe. But this picture made me want to read the
post. [1]
In June 1996, there was a Ku Klux
Klan rally in Michigan. At that time, there was also a protest against the Ku
Klux Klan rally. Keshia Thomas (only 18 years old at the time) was one of those
protesting the KKK rally. Somehow, one of the men from the KKK rally ended up
on the wrong side of the barricade.
The man tried to get away from the
crowd. But once they realized he was from the KKK rally, he was knocked down,
kicked and beaten. The picture in this post shows Keshia Thomas’s reaction to
what was happening. She got down on her knees and protected the man from being
beaten further.
Mark Brunner, the photographer who
captured her act of heroism, had this to say later, “She put herself at risk to
protect someone who, in my opinion, would not have done the same for her… Who
does that in this world?” [2]
Keshia Thomas had put herself at
risk to protect an enemy.
Does loving your enemy always look
this dramatic? While this story is impressive, loving your enemy is not always
so dramatic. It can be as simple as keeping your mouth shut when you’d rather
speak up… praying for someone when you’d rather not even think about them… speaking
kindly to a person when you’d rather walk the other way… not repaying an evil
for evil, etc.
I also tend to think that I don’t
really have any enemies, so what do I do? “Enemy” is a strong word, but in
essence, this command can be put into practice towards anyone we struggle with
in a negative way. They do not have to be a true “enemy” but the same principle
applies - - find a way to love them instead - - however that looks to you.
If Keshia Thomas could put her life
at risk for an enemy, what can I do to show God’s love towards someone who has
hurt me?
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Is
there someone in my life I need to stop seeing as the “enemy” and practice
loving them instead?
2. If so, how will that look?
FURTHER
READING:
Along with being a wife and mother
to two teenage boys, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a
great group of Junior High girls.
[1]
Click here to view the picture/post:
[2]
same
