Someone
who has hurt you badly in the past or someone who is trying to hurt you in the
present might be an enemy to you. Do
you have any enemies? Does your country
have enemies?
Sometimes
children say - “That person is not nice to me, so I’m not going to be nice to
them.” Do you agree with that statement
as a reason to avoid or hurt someone?
What
do you think about revenge? Is it
morally good, morally bad or depends upon the situation?
How
do you relate to your enemies? Some
possibilities:
Fight
them openly
Fight
them secretly
Avoid
them
Love
them
Have
you ever turned an enemy into a friend?
How did you do it? Give an
example. Have you ever had a friend
turn into an enemy? How did it happen?
Do
you have any rivals? A rival could be a
competitor for a job, an opposing team in sports, or a business that competes
with your business. Do you view or
treat a rival differently than an enemy?
How?
Bible verse on the subject of enemies
- Matthew 5:43-46a (Jesus speaking)
“But I say to you, love your
enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of
your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what
reward have you?”
*****Why does Jesus tell us to
love our enemies? What kinds of actions
would result from loving our enemies?
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles. Lest the Lord see it and be displeased, And
He turn away His anger from him.”
Proverbs 24;17-18
Why does God tell us not to be
happy when our enemy does badly?