“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
J.S. Park: Hospital Chaplain, Skeptical Christian 
Reblogged this on meanlittleboy2 and commented:
This is a very hard goal to be follow…But so true, I feel if a person can follow this commandment by Christ??The battle is half one cheers
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I believe love transforms people and breaks down their barriers. It may not happen right away and the change may be so gradual you have to look back over years to notice, but it does change people! And not just the “enemy” or the “neighbor,” but yourself as well. It is something I work on every day.
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Reblogged this on Putting my Feet in the Dirt and commented:
Love truly is the greatest gift of all!
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Loving is the predominate quality of God. 1 John 4:8 says that “God Is Love”. We were created in his image and should display that love as best we can in our imperfect condition. But what are we to do when the country we live in goes to war against another country? Do we support it? How do we continue to show Christian love when those who hate you are trying to physically take your life? Christ told his servant Peter that “those who live by the sword will die by the sword”. Christians that truly follow Jesus are neutral in war and politics. Jesus was foremost in his stand of neutrality, not seeking any political office and even turned down control of “all the kingdoms of the world” Matt. 4:8. Jesus did however do what the government required of him that was not in conflict with his fathers will.
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