Why does God allow offensive people in our lives? Why does He allow people to hurt us? Wouldn’t our lives be better off without certain people? We might even think that the offences we suffer are merely an attack of the Devil and should be treated as such. We might pray that the Lord would remove our enemies from our lives. Yet, this seems to be a prayer God rarely answers and for good reason. Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect . (Matt 5:43-48)

How do we know the sons of our heavenly Father? Is it by how they treat their loved ones? No, it is by how they treat their enemies. Therefore, it is quite possible that person who offends you is in your life for a reason. He might be there to teach you how to be a son of your heavenly Father. He might not be a curse but an opportunity.

It is one thing to look in the face of one easy to love and see a person beloved of God. It is quite another to look in the face of your enemy and see one beloved of God. If you can do so, you have seen the kingdom of God.