Whom do we love

Last weekend we visited Oasis church.  They were in the middle of a series of sermons on shocking statements of Christ.  That Sunday was on:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Matthew 5:43-44

The pastor talked about how correctly the Jewish leaders had summarized much of the law into loving your neighbors, but not so rightly they had tagged on "and hate your enemies."  It seems logical.  If we are Christians, then God must hate those who hate us - right?  But that is not how God works and since God is love that is not how love should work.

Jesus calls us to love our enemies - those who do us wrong, who want bad things to happen to us, who talk poorly about us.  Love them?

If God's Spirit lives in us, then that Spirit's love should be shown in our lives - love that loves our neighbors and our enemies.