Do Good to Those Who Oppose You

In Luke 6:27-29 it says, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.” (NLT)

What I’m learning is that when I’m persecuted, harassed, or facing opposition, I need to respond with a blessing.

Jesus says in Luke 6:27-29, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also” (NLT).

Who does that? Not many people, actually. But that kind of response is what sets Christ followers apart—because it’s not natural, popular, or easy.

It takes a lot of courage to do those things! Anyone can retaliate or say something mean. But it takes a lot of courage to respond with a blessing.

God wants me to love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who hurt me, and turn the other cheek. Is that easy? No. But it’s the most powerful form of witness—and I can do it only by being filled with God’s love.

The movie The Butler shows how the Freedom Riders, who fought racism in the South during the Civil Rights Movement, trained people how to not retaliate when they were hit, spit on, cursed, or pushed, or when people threw food at them. It’s an intensely powerful scene of taking a nonviolent stance.

When I refuse to retaliate and instead respond in love at work or with somebody who doesn’t like me, God will be pleased. And I’m going to be blessed.

Jesus said, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-12 NLT).

Jesus paid a price for me. And he says there’s a price to be paid for following him. As a Christ follower, popularity on Earth is not a guarantee—but my reward in heaven is a guarantee.