Most of us would agree that the worst crime that anyone could ever commit is murder. Taking the life of another is obviously wrong. But in this third of a series from Matthew 5, Jesus warns that WORDS can also kill, and that if we harbor bad feelings against others, we are just as guilty as a murderer. Equally difficult to hear is that even if someone else does US wrong, WE have the responsibility to try to make it right. If you want to be right with God, you must first try to make right with others -- even if those others are the ones at fault.

This may sound unfair, but in the end, this is also the best thing we can do for ourselves. Recent medical research shows that anger -- whether acted upon or just held in -- significantly increases the risk for heart attacks. So, keeping your heart free of anger, choosing to love and forgive rather than holding grudges, is not only key to a healthy spiritual heart but also to a healthy physical heart. It seems that loving even our enemies is in everyone's best interest!

In this week's message, we look at ways to do it.