Thanks for joining me for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Tim Gustafson wrote today's reading, and he titled it, Loving Our Enemy.

During World War II, U.S. Navy, Medical Corpsman, Lynn Weston, went ashore with the Marines as they stormed enemy-held

islands. Inevitably, there were gruesome casualties. He did his best to patch up wounded

combatants for evacuation. On one occasion, his unit encountered an enemy soldier with a bad

abdominal wound. Due to the nature of the injury, the man couldn't be given water.

To keep him alive, Petty Officer Weston administered intravenous plasma.

Save that plasma for our fellas, Swabby, fellowed one of the Marines.

Petty Officer Weston ignored him.

He knew what Jesus would do. Love your enemies.

Jesus did far more than speak those challenging words. He lived them. In Luke chapter 22, when a hostile

mob seized him and took him to the high priest, the men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.

The abuse continued all the way through his sham trials and execution.

Jesus didn't merely endure it. When Roman soldiers crucified him, he prayed for their forgiveness.

We may not encounter a literal enemy who's trying to kill us, but everyone knows what

it's like to endure ridicule and scorn. Our natural reaction is to respond in anger. Jesus raised

the bar, saying in Matthew chapter 5, pray for those who persecute you. Today, let's walk in that kind of love, showing kindness

as Jesus did, even to our enemies. The scripture reading for today's devotional is Luke

chapter 22 verses 63 through 65 and chapter 23

verses 32 through 38. The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded

him and demanded, prophesy who hit you. and they said many other insulting things to him.

And now picking up at chapter 23, verse 32. Two other men, both criminals, were also let out with him to be

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