Love your enemies and do good to them
Scripture reference
Luke 6:32–35 (ASV)
32And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 35But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
Stories
Ruby, Gunner's sixteen year old daughter, was shot in the back and died as she tried to flee from Billy Rupp who wanted to rape her. But even after Gunner caught Billy, he sought no vengeance but instead forgave him, visited him in jail and eventually led him to Christ before he was executed by the State of California.
John used to be filled with hate towards the Muslims who murdered many of his relatives during the civil war in Lebanon, but all of that changed when Brother John found the Lord Jesus. Having freely received forgiveness from Jesus, he too freely forgave the men who caused him much pain.
An army ritual of asking for forgiveness before a major battle reminds Uong Nguyen of Christ's command to forgive those who offend.
Wubo and Zhang had a long history of family enmity. When Zhang came out from prison, Wubo expected that Zhang will avenge all the evils Wubo had done to him in his absence. That did not happen, rather Zhang visited Wubo with gifts and shared with him the message of the love of Christ and how it led him to love his supposed enemies. Wubo accepted the Lord that day and they both became brothers in the Lord.
Brother Yun relates some of his experiences and the lesson that forgiveness is not a burden, it is an offer. Loving one's enemies and doing good to them starts with forgiveness.
Louise and Nathan Degrafinried were held at gunpoint. Not only did they diffuse the situation with calm, but they ministered to their would-be attacker with love and mercy, ultimately winning him to Christ.
The Dani people of Irian Jaya understood the gospel at a profoundly simple level, and its radical implications for their enemies.