“It is not necessary to blow out your neighbor’s light to let your own shine.” M. R. Dehaan (1891-1965) , physican, co-editor, Our Daily Bread

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”- Martin Luther King Jr. This line was spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. in a sermon called “Loving Your Enemies,” delivered at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama (December 25, 1957).

He gave this sermon when bullets were rattling his home, bomb threats were threatening his family and then he was eventually murdered for his stand on Jesus’ Truth of light and love. 

 MLK had to consider how to counteract your enemies in 1957. 

  How do you take Jesus’ teaching of “Love your enemies” and dig deep when it happens to you? 

Jesus did not leave a whole lot of wiggle room. Neither did MLK that Christmas day. In the sermon, he answers a valid question, “Why should we love our enemies? …the first reason is fairly obvious. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars…The only way anything good has ever happened is with love.”

Continue the legacy for Dr King today.  Light it up.  Spread the Love. 

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 

Prayer: 

Father God, You are light in the darkest of times. Let me spread love among my enemies in my community. Amen