Love your enemies

I have heard the story about the actor who was acting the part of Christ in the crucifixion scene. As he carried the cross up the hill a tourist began making fun of him and shouting insults at him. Finally, the actor had taken all of it and he could not tolerate the nonsense any longer. So he threw down his cross, walked over to the tourist and punched him out.

The play was interrupted and the director told him, "I know he was a pest, but I can’t accept what you did. Moreover you are playing the part of Jesus, Jesus never retaliated. So don’t do anything like that again tomorrow."

Well, the man promised he wouldn’t. But the next day the mocker was back worse than before and finally the actor exploded and punched him out again.

The director said, "That’s it. I have to fire you. We just can’t have you behaving this way while playing the part of Jesus. Moreover you are wasting my shooting time too."

The actor begged, "Please give me one more chance. I really need this job, tomorrow when you take this shot I will be careful."

So the director decided to give him another chance.

The next day as he was carrying his cross up the street, sure enough, the mocker was there again. You could tell that the actor was really trying to control himself, but it was getting to his nerves. He was clenching his fists and grinding his teeth.

Finally, he looked at the mocker and said, "Wait I’ll meet you after the resurrection!"

When people scheme against us or badmouth us our usual response is to retaliate or attack them. Bible says we ought to love them. When you love your enemies you actually imitate God. When you imitate God, God is on your side and will give you victory in front of your enemies. That is why David said, “You prepare a table before my enemies.”

Love your enemies. Love the ones who wrong you. When we love our enemies we reflect God’s love.