Do Good to Those Who Oppose You

[Do Good to Those Who Oppose You]( Current Teaching Series [The Keys to a Blessed Life]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Do Good to Those Who Oppose You]( By Rick Warren — 05/31/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.” Luke 6:27-29 (NLT) When you’re persecuted, harassed, or facing opposition, you need to respond with a blessing. Jesus says in Luke 6:27-29, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also” (NLT). Who does that? Not many people, actually. But that kind of response is what sets Christians apart—because it’s not natural, popular, or easy. It takes a lot of courage to do those things! Anyone can retaliate or say something mean. But it takes a lot of courage to respond with a blessing. God wants you to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you, and turn the other cheek. Is that easy? No. But it’s the most powerful form of witness—and you can do it only by being filled with God’s love. The movie The Butler shows how the Freedom Riders, who fought racism in the South during the Civil Rights Movement, trained people how to not retaliate when they were hit, spit on, cursed, or pushed, or when people threw food at them. It’s an intensely powerful scene of taking a nonviolent stance. As I watched that scene, tears started coming down my face. I thought, “I want to be that kind of person for Jesus. I want to be that brave. I want to have a heart of courage that won’t cave in to what’s wrong, no matter what they throw at me. And I want to respond with love.” When you refuse to retaliate and instead respond in love at work or with somebody who doesn’t like you, God will be pleased. And you’re going to be blessed. Jesus said, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven” (Matthew 5:10-12 NLT). Jesus paid a price for you. And he says there’s a price to be paid for following him. When you’re a Christian, popularity on Earth is not a guarantee—but your reward in heaven is a guarantee. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - How do you respond to the idea of suffering for Jesus Christ? How does your answer affect the way you handle insults or disapproval? - Why is responding in love and not retaliation the most powerful form of witness for Christ? - How have you seen lives changed through loving enemies, praying for those who hurt others, and turning the other cheek? Where will you spend eternity? The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV). 
If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, start with this prayer: “Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day. "I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen." If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [Do Good to Those Who Oppose You]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get The Keys to a Blessed Life Scripture Cards when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( Keep God’s Word close at hand—especially when you need it most—with Pastor Rick’s The Keys to a Blessed Life Scripture cards. This set of 52 artfully designed Scripture cards contains key verses from Pastor Rick’s The Keys to a Blessed Life teaching series and points you toward the hopeful and purpose-filled life God has planned for you. Featuring bright and refreshing artwork with gold foil designs, The Keys to a Blessed Life Scripture cards are designed to help you build a life filled with God’s blessings—and they’re our thanks for your gift below to help share the hope of Jesus Christ with people around the world through Daily Hope. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 8 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series The Keys to a Blessed Life. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: It Depends on Who You Depend On Message 2: How God Blesses Broken Hearts Message 3: The Strength of Gentleness Message 4: Why You Need to Stay Hungry Message 5: Your Ministry of Mercy Message 6: God Blesses a Heart of Integrity Message 7: How to Reconcile a Relationship Message 8: Handling Opposition to Your Faith [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( Rick Warren is the founding pastor of [Saddleback Church]( one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller [The Purpose Driven Life](. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created [The PEACE Plan]( to address the five global giants—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States