Golfers hit the ball from the tee to the green and into the cup”¦some use more shots than others. There will always be the next “˜hole”™ or the next “˜nine”™ to better the score. No one “˜conquers”™ a golf course”¦we can make friends with it, but never conquer it. Just ask Tiger Woods.

Golf can be viewed as “˜the enemy”™, or it can be seen as a challenge to test one”™s skill.

How you and I view our enemy is like golf ““ are we out to defeat our enemy or are we challenged to put God”™s love into action?

(NASB) Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, “˜You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”™”

Jesus knew what the crowd listening to Him on that mountainside had heard from the teachers of God”™s Law. Men had added something to God”™s word.

(NASB) Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

Compare Matthew 5:43 with Leviticus 19:18, what had men added?

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Jesus went on to explain the intent of God”™s words:

(NASB) Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

This sounds “˜not fair”™! To love my enemies and to pray for them? To pray for someone who oppress or harasses me with ill-treatment? No way!

Notice what Jesus said: “But I say to you”¦” He means what He says”¦you and I are to love our enemies and to pray for them”¦no matter what they do to us.

(NASB) Matthew 5:45 “so 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.”

God”™s actions affect both those who do evil and good, those who are righteous and unrighteous.

At one time I was without Jesus as my Savior, I was without the

righteousness of Christ.

God”™s love is offered to all. He does not play favorites. It is your choice and mine to accept His gift of love through His Son, the Lord Jesus.

God”™s people are to be different from how the world acts:

(NASB) Matthew 5:46-47 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

People who live without God in their lives love those who love them; they are friendly with those who like them.

Christ”™s followers are to be different from the world without God.

Are you?