The kingdom of God is about showing kindness.

Keeping love as our focus helps us see people as we should. People with other lifestyles and opinions are not the enemy. God loves them. He died for them, and for us to badmouth or abuse them is an affront to God’s love.

Our enemy is Satan. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)  When we remember that, it makes it easier to love people, despite our differences.

The Roman soldiers were not anyone’s favorites, but Jesus said to not only extend them courtesy, but do more than they asked. Bless those who persecute you. Stop seeing them as the enemy and start seeing them as being loved by God.

You’ve been given all the grace you need to love. You can do it. Love is a choice. Kindness is a choice. It’s who we are as citizens of the kingdom.