1. SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART

EXTREME FRIENDSHIP--LOVE IS MEANT FOR EVERYONE

Matthew 5:44
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

START
Ever since third grade you've been feuding with the sorry excuse for a human being who's just plunked down in the desk in front of you. Last week your squabble erupted afresh when the guy pelted your house with three dozen eggs--resulting in two giant swaths of dimpled siding, three shattered windows, and one traumatized family dog. If that wasn't bad enough, the police interrogated you. Your parents blamed you. The only plus about sitting behind him now is that he can't see your laser-like eyes smoking holes in his skull.

How do you treat people who inflict pain on you?

READ Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said: 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

THINK
Perfect? Like God? If this command sounds over the top, breathe deeply. Then answer this: Why does Jesus tell you to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"? (Look for what follows "that you may be...")

On whom does God shower his care--his warm sun and life-giving rain?

Even pagans who don't know God care about people who love them. How can you do better than that?

LIVE
If you love people who cause you pain, are you excusing the wrongs they do? Explain.

You've learned that God wants his care to spread around the world and to every person on the planet. No doubt there are some people you'd rather skip. Yet when you love the unlovable and care for the incurable, you're like God. Perfect. Holy. Mature. God never brushes off evil. In fact, he's the only being in the universe who knows how it feels to have the whole human race stand against him (Romans 5:10). But his undeserved kindness busts through our sinfulness and makes us his friends (Colossians 1:21-22). He wants us to pass on to others the love he's given to us.

When you scan your world, who looks easy to love? Why?

Who is more challenging to love? Make a list. Next to each name, jot down one tiny way you can show this person the same brand of kindness God shows us.

WRAP
You might figure that Jesus received a lot of playground thrashings as a kid. After all, he tells you not just to love your enemies but to "turn your other cheek" (Matthew 5:39 NIRV). One thing shows us for sure that Jesus was no wimp: He was radically tough in his willingness to suffer for our sake. Loving an enemy doesn't mean you're pathetically weak. It proves you're incredibly strong.

copyright 2008 :: Youth Specialties
300 S. Pierce St. // El Cajon, CA 92020
888.346.4179