Being a Friend to the Unfriendly

2024-08-10

Early this morning I had a dream that there was this threatening man in a group of people I happened to be with. I tried talking with him, but he continued to be very threatening and rude. Eventually he had me pinned to the ground, he being very heavy and strong. But I kept insisting that I wanted to be his friend. Eventually he believed me, and he confessed that he struggled with a certain injustice.

Now this is no credit to me. I am not naturally kind to the mean-spirited. This dream does not reflect reality, but it should. However, by faith in Christ we can be a friend to the unfriendly, for God is kind to both the godly and the ungodly. When we abide in Christ, His character will be evident in us, and He will love the enemy through us.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (Luke 6:35)

In other words, being kind to the unthankful and evil is being like our Father. By faith we will be like Him.