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Apr 22
Love0

Jesus’ Most Difficult Command

By Evil, Forgiveness, Hate, Jesus, Love, Persecution, Revenge No Comments

A shocking act on a dark New York highway once left a nation demanding justice, but what followed told a far deeper story about the power of love and forgiveness. In 2004, Victoria Ruvolo drove through freezing rain when a group of teenagers hurled a frozen turkey through her windshield. The impact shattered her face and nearly ended her life, leading to hours of surgery and a long, painful recovery. Yet what happened in the courtroom months later stunned far more people than the crime itself.

When the young man responsible, Ryan Cushing, stood before her, the world expected anger and vengeance. Instead, Ruvolo asked the court for leniency. She embraced her attacker, whispered forgiveness, and expressed hope for his future. Observers sat in silence, witnessing what many called a “moment of grace.” The entire scene powerfully echoed the words of Jesus: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).

Such love feels unnatural because it runs counter to how most people choose to live. We tend to love those who love us, support those who support us, and avoid or even resent those who hurt us. Though these patterns seem logical, even fair, Jesus challenged them directly. “If you love those who love you,” He insisted, “what reward do you have?” (Matt. 5:46). His words expose how self-serving expressions of love can sometimes be.

Stepping outside of what is comfortable and convenient, however, is where the greatest acts of compassion reside. Loving your enemies—those who oppose, offend, or wound you—requires something deeper than human nature or instinct allows. Only by deliberately choosing to act against our impulse can we heed our Savior’s instructions to do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27). Doing so does not excuse wrongdoing. Yet, mature believers must refuse to let hatred determine our responses to others.

How does this play out in real life? It means extending kindness to a coworker who undermined you or showing patience toward a neighbor who treated you with contempt. Scripture repeatedly reinforces practical kindness with no strings attached. The Apostle Paul instructed, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Rom. 12:20). Actions like these move love beyond the theoretical into reality.

Living with radical devotion to others does not come easy. Thankfully, God graciously embodies and empowers every principle of faith He establishes. Stated differently, the Lord faithfully and compassionately shows love to His enemies before challenging us to do the same. Need proof? He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good while also sending rain for both the righteous and unrighteous (Matt. 5:45).

Even more powerful, though, is the fact that God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus died for us (Rom. 5:8). Long before we sought the Lord in any way, He chose to love us. In fact, we only love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

These truths revolutionize how followers of Jeus understand godly love. When we grasp the depth of God’s grace toward us despite our failures, it changes how we see others. For the sanctified, love becomes less about evaluating worthiness and more about reflecting God’s character. Loving others well is our greatest opportunity to display the family resemblance of those who belong to Him.

Still, ideas that are easy to understand are not always simple when it comes to living. Emotions often refuse to cooperate, especially when wounds run deep. Yet, in this context, the key is increasing our commitment in order to break free from the bondage of our feelings. Prayer will be foundational to our efforts (Matt. 5:44b).The goal is overcoming evil with good, rather than vice-versa (Rom. 12:21). Like a muscle that grows stronger with exercise, we small efforts will increase our capacity to love well over time. Slowly, our hearts can change.

Ultimately, godly love proves its substance through action. It seeks good for others, even when they have done harm. It prays, forgives, and moves toward reconciliation whenever possible. Jesus summarized this calling with a challenging command to be perfect, or holy, even as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48). Despite our tendency to fall short, God’s desire is that we love others perfectly, even as He loves us.

Adam B. Dooley
April 22, 2026

Apr 08
Love0

Struggling to Believe

By Christian Living, Doubt, Jesus No Comments

I love this time of year. Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday is a highlight on every church calendar. Additional worship services, large crowds, and first-time professions of faith create lasting momentum that churches often ride for months. Social media posts and pictures ought to bring a smile to our faces as we celebrate all that God is doing in congregations across our nation.

And yet, I cannot help but think of another reality that often follows the largest Sunday of the year. When surveying the New Testament, we quickly realize that the initial response to Jesus’ resurrection was confusion, and even unbelief. People heard the reports. They listened to the testimonies. They knew the tomb was empty. And yet, most struggled to believe at first.

If doubt plagued potential followers of Christ in the first century, certainly we modern pilgrims will struggle with uncertainty as well. Perhaps you have heard the story of Jesus’ cross and resurrection before. The news of God’s love may not be anything new to you, but deep down you might be wondering if all this religious fervor is really true?

Two of Jesus’ earliest followers illustrate the anxious tension you might be experiencing in the aftermath of Easter Sunday. A man named Cleopas (Luke 24:18), along with a friend, discussed the commotion surrounding Jesus’ missing body while they journeyed toward Emmaus (Luke 24:13-14). Reports that Christ had risen from the dead only seemed to confuse them more as they discussed it.

Because the men were unable to piece the significance of the weekend events together on their own, Jesus met them along the road while they traveled (Luke 24:15-17). The willingness of our Savior to run to their doubts rather than away from them ought to encourage us. Though these sojourners rightly understood Jesus’ prophetic teaching, miraculous deeds, and death on the cross, they seemingly had no category for His victory over the grave (Luke 24:19-21).

A similar disconnect between the sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection remains today. According to Barna Research, though eight out of ten Americans celebrated Easter this year, less than half of them associate the holiday with the empty tomb of Christ. Whether due to ignorance or confusion, we, like Cleopas and his companion, still look upon Jesus rising from the dead with suspicion and uncertainty.

Thankfully, Christ is neither angered nor annoyed by our skepticism. Our questions do not intimidate Him, nor does our hesitancy frustrate Him. Just as Jesus spoke with clarity on the Emmaus Road, He is still guiding us to truth today (Luke 24:25-26). And how does He do so? Luke simply reports, “beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27).”

Maybe Jesus explained from the book of Genesis that the Messiah would suffer a bruised heel (death on a cross) before crushing the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). Perhaps He explained that Isaac on the altar offered a picture of His death as a sacrifice on Calvary (Gen. 22). Or, Jesus might have recalled the first Passover in Egypt in order to identify Himself as the final Passover Lamb by which God will pass over our sins (Exodus 12). He could have reminded them that Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days as a picture of His three days in the tomb (Matt. 12:40).

Regardless of what Scriptures our Savior used, the point is that from cover-to-cover the Bible points us to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God’s plan, of which the resurrection is foundational (John 5:39). Apart from a risen Savior, Christianity is a lie and the Bible is the greatest hoax in the history of the world. If Jesus did not rise, this life is all there is. The truthfulness of the Bible and the redemption we seek are inseparable.

Not surprisingly, Jesus’ strategy worked. After systematically addressing the concerns of these questioners, our Lord vanished from their sight. As Cleopas and company debriefed, each man marveled, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us (Luke 24:32)?” The pattern was not unique for these two men, however. While addressing another group of bewildered followers, Jesus once again pointed to the Law, the prophets, and the Psalms in order to demonstrate is salvific mission (Luke 24:44-47).

Herein is a clue to help us face our doubts and answer our questions as well. Do you struggle with whether to believe all this talk of resurrection from the dead? Let me encourage you to read the Scriptures and see for yourself. The Bible holds up to our scrutiny. It answers our deepest questions, while quieting our secret fears. And the Word of God will unapologetically point you to Jesus Christ as the risen Savior who can change your life forever.

Adam B. Dooley
April 8, 2026

Feb 26
Love0

Stop Misquoting Jesus

By Accountability, Christian Living, Jesus, Judgment No Comments

After preaching the Bible for over twenty years, I continue to be amazed by the transformative impact simply declaring the truth of Scripture can have on people’s lives. On a weekly basis, I witness firsthand how the Word of God is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16) for those who will simply yield to it.

Equally astounding, though, is the swift backlash that often comes from those who reject the plain meaning of Scripture in order to defend what is contrary to God’s commands. The mental gymnastics required to deny basic biblical realities would be entertaining if the stakes were not so high. Those who resent moral absolutes as toxic and oppressive fail to realize that they, according to Scripture, walk in the futility of their minds, alienated from God because of the hardness of their hearts (Eph. 4:17-18).

Yet, there is one verse of Scripture that even those who deride and scorn the Bible love to quote authoritatively as they defend all kinds of carnality. Making definitive truth claims often chides detractors to respond, “Ah, Ah, Ah! Judge not lest you be judged (Matt. 7:1)!” Think I’m exaggerating? Consider the following Christian claims:

  • Arrogance is a subtle form of idolatry that God will resist (James 4:6).
  • Lying is offensive to the God of truth and has its origin in hell (John 8:44).
  • Adultery is never justifiable because marriage is a picture of Christ and His church (Eph. 5:22-33).
  • Abortion is murder because God weaves us together in the womb (Psa. 139:13-16).
  • Homosexuality is sinful because it violates God’s natural design (Rom. 1:24-27).
  • All religions are not the same. All roads do not lead to heaven (Matt. 7:13-14).
  • Jesus is not the best way of salvation; He is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12).

Ideas like these are not revolutionary; they are as old as Christianity itself. Yet, in a post-Christian world where the new religion is self-autonomy, our culture often responds to assertions like these with disgust and vitriol. Even more remarkable, though, is how many people will claim that these historical positions contradict the very Bible that revealed them. Sometimes those who reject most of what Jesus said are eager to quote Matthew 7:1 when they disagree with the moral assessment of another. Who are you to judge? Doesn’t the Bible say judge not?

Sadly, far too many Christians do not know how to respond when antagonists twist and mock the Bible for manipulative purposes. So great is our fear of being too judgmental that some have referred to Jesus’ words in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount as the eleventh commandment. Stripping this verse from its original context makes it the perfect crutch for those anxious to gaslight anyone brave enough to speak what is biblically accurate but unpopular. Ironically, those who cite Jesus’ warning are often the most judgmental toward those with whom they disagree!

Contrary to internet theologians eager to dismiss the Bible with the Bible, Jesus’ instruction about judging others is not a prohibition against discernment and moral accountability. Neither is He suggesting that Christians should never make judgment calls about the behaviors of others. Just a few verses later, Jesus Himself judges that some are like dogs who are resentful of what is holy, and others are like swine that are undeserving of pearls (Matt. 7:6). Later, in the same passage, Jesus warns that we should beware of false prophets, which is hardly possible apart from making judgment calls (Matt. 7:15). Next, He says, “You will know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:16, 20).” Again, insights like these are impractical if it is always wrong to issue any kind of moral verdict. Surely Jesus is not being inconsistent by disobeying His own command!

Instead, our Savior is admonishing us to judge carefully, realizing that the standards we impose on others will be the same criterion by which God evaluates us as well. His point is not that we should never judge, but that we should refuse to do so hypocritically. Thus, before judging others we should honestly evaluate ourselves. To help us grasp this understanding, Jesus provided a powerful analogy immediately after his precept. Imagine noticing a splinter in your brother’s eye but failing to see the log in your own (Matt. 7:3-4)! The solution is not, as many recklessly assume, to ignore the speck in another’s eye indefinitely, but to remove the 2X4 in your own eye first before seeking to help others (Matt. 7:5).

Clearly, Jesus is not suggesting that believers shy away from issues of right and wrong, or that we remain silent due to the ridicule of critics. In a world where the only rule is that there are no rules, Christians are called to be salt and light, which means we do not retreat from speaking what is true and we are just as deliberate to live what is true. May God give us the discernment and commitment to do so.

Adam B. Dooley
February 26, 2026

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