The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.”

—Luke 6:32–35

What would the world look like if we actually did this? When we look out into the world—even the Christian community—we see far more hating, insulting, and reviling of our enemies.

What if, when something terrible happened to our enemies—or even to people we simply don’t like—we not only refrained from gloating (which I see too often even amongst Christians), but we reached out, offered aid, and gave to those who undoubtedly consider us enemies as well?

Could we help that man who wronged us if he were in trouble? Could we loan something to the people who failed us with no promise of getting it back?

There is no special virtue in treating only those who love us with kindness and love. That is only human nature.

Jesus freely gave everything both for those who loved him and those who hated him.

When we learn to do this as well, we live out the love of Christ.

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