在二戰期間，美國海軍醫護兵林恩．韋斯頓（Lynne Weston）跟著海軍陸戰隊一起上岸攻打敵軍占領的島嶼。不可避免地，雙方傷亡慘重。韋斯頓盡力為受傷的士兵包紮傷口，以便撤離。後來，他的部隊遇到一名敵軍，腹部傷勢嚴重，不能喝水。為了保住傷者性命，韋斯頓給他注射血漿。

一位海軍陸戰隊的士兵吼道：「你這小子，要把血漿留給我們自己人！」但韋斯頓並不理會，他知道耶穌會怎麼做，那就是「愛你們的仇敵」（馬太福音5章44節）。

耶穌不只講述這番具有挑戰性的教導，祂還身體力行。當耶穌落入一群充滿敵意的暴徒手中，被帶到祭司長那裡，「看守耶穌的人戲弄祂，打祂」（路加福音22章63節）。這種辱罵欺凌一直持續到祂經過不公正的審問和被處決。耶穌不僅忍受一切，當羅馬士兵將祂釘在十字架上，耶穌還求天父赦免他們（23章34節）。

我們或許不曾遇到一個真的要殺害我們的敵人，但人人都知道忍受嘲笑與奚落是什麼滋味。我們自然的反應是憤怒，但耶穌卻設了高標準：「為那逼迫你們的禱告。」（馬太福音5章44節）

今日，讓我們以這樣的愛去對待別人，即使是對我們的仇敵，也同樣展現出耶穌的恩慈。

During World War II, US Navy medical corpsman Lynne Weston went ashore with the marines as they stormed enemy-held islands. Inevitably, there were gruesome casualties. He did his best to patch up wounded combatants for evacuation. On one occasion, his unit encountered an enemy soldier with a bad abdominal wound. Due to the nature of the injury, the man couldn’t be given water. To keep him alive, Petty Officer Weston administered intravenous plasma.

“Save that plasma for our fellas, Swabby!” bellowed one of the marines. Petty Officer Weston ignored him. He knew what Jesus would do: “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus did far more than speak those challenging words; He lived them. When a hostile mob seized Him and took Him to the high priest, “the men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him” (Luke 22:63). The abuse continued all the way through His sham trials and execution. Jesus didn’t merely endure it. When Roman soldiers crucified Him, He prayed for their forgiveness (23:34).

We may not encounter a literal enemy who’s trying to kill us. But everyone knows what it’s like to endure ridicule and scorn. Our natural reaction is to respond in anger. Jesus raised the bar: “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Today, let’s walk in that kind of love, showing kindness as Jesus did—even to our enemies.