“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Matthew 5:43-47

            The real challenge to loving our neighbors is if the neighbor is unlovable or takes steps to make our lives miserable.  It’s easy to love loveable people.  It’s very tough when they are not so kind.  Loving our enemies is God’s kind of love.  He loves those who persecute him and his followers.  He loves the most unlovable people that have ever lived.  This is hard, but our love must show the world that it’s different than their love…and better.