The Warrior’s Code: Loving Those Who Oppose You
TODAY’S FOCUS IS: Learning to Love Your Enemies as Christ Commands
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." —Luke 6:27-28
Who Are Your Enemies?
Enemy.
It’s a strong word.
Most men don’t walk around thinking about who their enemies are. We’re not in a medieval battlefield, and we’re not plotting revenge.
But let’s be honest.
We all have someone who has wronged us. Someone who has lied about us, mistreated us, let us down, betrayed our trust, or gone out of their way to oppose us.
Enemies aren’t always carrying swords. Sometimes, they carry words.
Enemies don’t always attack physically. Sometimes, they attack emotionally.
🚨 Jesus knew we’d have enemies. That’s why He commanded us to love them.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—this is one of the hardest things Christ asks of us.
The Natural Man vs. The Spiritual Man
When someone wrongs you, what is your first instinct?
For most of us, it’s one of two things:
1️⃣ Get even – Strike back. Match their energy. Teach them a lesson.
2️⃣ Cut them off – Ignore them. Give them the silent treatment. Pretend they don’t exist.
🚨 But Jesus flips the script. He says:
✅ Do good to them
✅ Bless them
✅ Pray for them
Wait… what?
Love them? The people who despise me? The ones who have made my life difficult? The ones who would never do the same for me?
Yes.
Because when you love those who love you, that’s easy. But when you love those who are impossible to love, that’s supernatural (Luke 6:32-36). That’s what sets a real man of God apart from the world.
Why Would Jesus Ask This of Us?
1️⃣ Because We Were Once Enemies of God
Before Christ redeemed us, we were enemies of God (Romans 5:10). We were rebels—selfish, sinful, lost. And yet… God still loved us.
Think about that for a second.
If Christ loved you when you were at your worst, how can you refuse to love those who wrong you?
2️⃣ Because It Breaks the Cycle of Evil
Fighting evil with more evil is how the world operates. But Christ calls us to fight evil with good (Romans 12:21).
3️⃣ Because It Reflects the Heart of God
When we love our enemies, we show them something they don’t understand. We show them the radical love of Christ—the same love that transformed us.
And here’s the truth, brother:
📌 You don’t know what God might be doing in their heart.
📌 You don’t know what impact your love might have on their soul.
📌 You don’t know how God might use your obedience to break them and bring them to Him.
Loving your enemies isn’t about weakness. It’s about being a warrior in the Kingdom of God.
What Do We Do?
🚨 Step 1: Identify Your Enemy
Who comes to mind when you think of someone who has hurt you?
Maybe it’s a co-worker, a boss, a friend who betrayed you, a family member who cut you deep, a person who has spread lies about you, or someone who intentionally opposes you.
🚨 Step 2: Pray for Them
Jesus didn’t just say to “tolerate” your enemies—He said to PRAY for them.
That means asking God to move in their lives, to bless them, to change their hearts, and to reveal Himself to them.
It doesn’t mean excusing their actions. It doesn’t mean putting yourself back into a toxic situation. It means letting God handle the justice while you obey His command to love.
🚨 Step 3: Look for a Way to Show Kindness
Jesus said to do good to those who hate you. That’s action.
This could be as simple as:
✔ A kind word
✔ An unexpected act of generosity
✔ A willingness to forgive, even when they don’t deserve it
Will it be easy? No.
Will it be worth it? Yes.
Challenge of the Week
✅ Write down the name of one person who has wronged you.
✅ Pray for them every single day this week.
✅ Ask God to show you one way to bless them.
Let’s Pray
Father,
I confess that it’s hard to love those who have hurt me. My flesh wants to fight back, to get even, to hold onto bitterness. But I know that’s not Your way. Jesus, You loved me when I was at my worst—help me to love others in the same way. I surrender my anger, my resentment, and my pain to You. Change my heart. Teach me how to pray for those who oppose me. Show me how to love my enemies with the same grace You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This is not a soft message.
📌 Loving your enemies is warrior-level Christianity.
📌 Forgiving the unforgivable is what separates real men of God from the world.
📌 Praying for those who hate you is the sign of a Kingdom-minded leader.
Are you willing to fight this battle?
Let’s Get to Work!