SUN AND RAIN

A statement Jesus made during His 'Sermon on the Mount' reads as follows ...

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45 

Note ... He was not saying that you earn salvation by loving your enemies. The phrase, 'that you may be sons of your Father in heaven' refers to displaying His character. Another version interprets it more accurately ... 'then you will be acting like your Father in heaven'. 

Christ then underscores His command with a practical example of how His Father loves His enemies ... 'He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust'.

Those in the crowd that day understood the importance of good weather for their agrarian way of life. The idea that God bestows sunshine and rain without prejudice (and regardless of a farmer's disposition toward Him) shows the type of love He wants us to exhibit. 

It starts with remembering that we too were once enemies of our Lord ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Though it is difficult to love those who seem so blatantly evil in this 'end of days' generation, the age of grace is still with us. We must see the lost through God's eyes ...

I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all people. This is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1,3-4

There is a soon-coming day when God's patience will be exhausted and His divine judgment will fall upon those who've rejected His Son. But until then, we are to share the message of the cross ... expressed from a heart given to love.