Enemies are hostile; they seek to take what does not belong to them, attacking people and property to gain power over them. Naturally, we hate our enemies and want bad things to happen to them. But Jesus pointed out that God sends sun and rain indiscriminately to good and bad alike, enabling their crops to grow so that they can all eat and live. In this way He shows His love to the rebels as well as to the wicked.

The kingdom of heaven is full of people who have been wicked once, but they have been transformed when they believed the gospel and received the Spirit of Christ. Each of them might have been annihilated for their sins but God had mercy on them when they repented and put their trust in Jesus. The only way His kingdom will grow is by evil people being converted. So Jesus has a special interest in winning them with love.

In part, He uses the love of those who already believe in Him. As we see how much sinners need Him as their Saviour we stop hating them and treat them as people who are spiritually sick: we pray for them and bless them with kindness so that they will see practical love from us, which comes from our Heavenly Father. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:12-13; "We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly." The work of the gospel enables God's enemies to be reconciled with Him through Christ; but in the process, they will hate us for our efforts.

Being nice to those who think well of us, is easy. It is hard to love our enemies. Yet Jesus did. 1 Peter 2:20-23 says, "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." It is the perfect standard which is impossible except through the love of God. And when we know that love, we have to share it – so that sinners will find a road of love drawing them towards the Saviour. The first step is to pray for them. Let us ask His help to take that first step.