“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

In this world, what distinguishes the person who is super-competent and overwhelmingly powerful in their ability from the one who sees himself as struggling? We see it in the workplace, on the tennis court, in the classroom, as well as the battlefield.

Those who feel they are struggling for competency and power tend to be keenly competitive and take every advantage to put others down; they will execute prisoners of war, emphasize relative rank in the workplace, try to keep students in their place, and bend the rules to their limits on the tennis court.

Those who are super-confident in their ability tend to be generous and gracious to those who challenge them; they show kindness to prisoners in battle, offer help to the less able or lower rank in the workplace, guide students like a loving parent, and show Federer-like patience on the tennis court.

If the struggling one does win on the day, he is likely to take every opportunity to permanently weaken his opponent.
The supremely competent is not dismayed by setbacks, and when fighting has ceased, he reaches out to graciously help his opponent and turn an enemy into an ally.

We are encouraged to love and care for our enemies, knowing that we too were once enemies of God, yet He still loved us and sent his son Jesus to save us.
So, Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies” is not so much a command, but a promise of what He will equip us to do, as Christ lives in us.