One of the hardest things for us to do in obedience to God’s Word is to love our enemies. We must realize that we don’t deserve God’s grace any more than the next person. We must humbly recognize that we are all sinners and morally bankrupt without the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].” (Matt. 5:3 AMP)

When we realize this, then we know that Christ died for everyone, not just for those we like. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

And because the Lord loves us all, He commands us to love everyone, even those who seem unlovable. “But I say to you,  love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].” (Matt. 5:44-45 AMP)

We prove that we are children of God when we love everyone, because the Lord loves everyone and sends both His sunshine and rain on everyone–He does not single out only His children. How are we to love? We are to be kind, we are to pray for them, and we are to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)