Jesus said: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Actor Kelsey Grammer is best known for playing Dr. Frasier Crane on the hit shows Cheers and Frasier. 

A few years ago he was interviewed about playing a pastor in the movie “Jesus Revolution.” When asked about faith, he said: “The idea that you love your enemy as yourself—there’s only one guy that ever preached that, and that’s Jesus. And there’s only one guy saying it today, and that’s still Jesus. It’s amazing, and it’s like, we are surrounded by contrary information and the only one single clarion call is still from Jesus Christ saying, ‘this is the way, this is the path’…it is a beautiful thing, and an invitation to walk in the light of love is the best thing yet.”*

Yes. 100% agreement!

We are most certainly, as Grammer says, surrounded by “contrary information.” This simply highlights the uniqueness and power of what Jesus says.

But let’s be honest. Loving your enemies is difficult. 

That’s why it can be helpful to remember that other people—including enemies and adversaries—are made in God’s image and are in need of his love. That’s right: they too need the love of God. With this in mind, martyred pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer asks: “who needs our love more than those who are consumed with hatred and are utterly devoid of love?”**

If someone is filled with hate and lacking in love, don’t they also need the love of God? 

If someone is filled with hate and lacking love, don’t they also need the truth of God?

If someone is filled with hate and lacking love, don’t they also need to encounter the living Jesus?

You’re right. It’s a tall order. And the world is trying to sell us “contrary information.” 

But what if you and I were a part of a counter-cultural movement which flipped the script? What if you and I were able, with God’s help, to share and show love with someone who had never experienced it? 

What if Jesus was right?

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

“…the only one single clarion call is still from Jesus Christ saying, ‘this is the way, this is the path’…it is a beautiful thing, and an invitation to walk in the light of love is the best thing yet.”

Notes:

-“Why are we supposed to love our enemies?” Click here. August 3, 2025. Sermon.

-*A video of this interview is called “Kelsey Grammer’s Jesus Revolution Exclusive REVEALED!” and is posted on the Movieguide YouTube channel. You can access it by clicking here.

-**Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1959), 148.

–Vacation notice: The Up Devotional will go on pause after this week, resuming September 1, 2025 (when I come back from vacation). Past episodes can be found at TheUpDevo.com, or you can listen to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. You may also want to purchase the ‘Turbulence’ book on Amazon!

-Bible quotes are from the NIV.