Enemy Love

Jesus calls his community to take on the likeness of his Father. To our shock, this looks like active enemy love. We happily love others "quid pro quo" (something for something). But Jesus frees us up to do something humanly impossible. We can actively love others who do nothing for us (and even those who actively work against our good and flourishing). The only reason we can do this surprising and supernatural act is because we have received it from God. God is merciful to His enemies, which is most abundantly clear on the cross: "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Romans 5:10). Simply put, loved enemies love enemies. This is the surprise of Jesus.