I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. Matthew 5:44-45 (MSG)
Our real enemies are not flesh and blood. People are not the actual enemy. They are only vessels or instruments through which the real enemy the devil and the world carry out their ungodly and wicked schemes.
If you think people are the root of the problem in any confrontation or conflict you’re so mistaken. You’re dealing with the surface or symptoms. You’re fighting according to the flesh – the outward and superficial. You’re not getting to the root cause of the problem.
2 Corinthians 10:3 (AMPC) For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.
When we love, bless, and do good to the people who oppose, attack, mistreat, and hurt us we are allowing God to work on and in their lives to change them thus disengaging them from the clutches of the enemy who’s manipulating them.
Blessing people who are against and hostile to us is God’s way of protecting us from being contaminated by their evil. In other words it keeps us from acting the same way towards them in form of getting even.
When we bless instead of cursing we disarm the people who are antagonistic to us.
God’s blessing or goodness is a fire that dissolves wickedness.
The goodness of God leads to repentance. God’s unconditional blessing or goodness changes people’s minds. It’s the light of God’s goodness that dispels the darkness of the hatred and evil in people.
Therefore keep on blessing and doing good to those who are contrary to you.