1 John 2:6, Luke 6:27-36, Romans 9:9-21

Matt Summerfield shares the importance of loving and blessing others even when it seems the hardest thing to do.

Jesus invites us to live a deliberately different generous, forgiving, loving kind of life.

And of course, this is exactly how Jesus lived.

Perhaps the greatest example of this is when He hung in agony on the cross, as His enemies jeered and spat at Him and in that moment he could've rained down fire from heaven and yet he chose a different way.

"Father, forgive them - for they don't know what they're doing."

This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.

So choose love today. Even with the people who are hardest to love? You'll be better for it. They'll be better for it. The world will be better for it.

I can't put it better than Paul's words in Romans 9:9-21 in The Message version,

"Love from the centre of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. 'I'll do the judging,' says God. 'I'll take care of it.'"

Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.