Love Your Enemies – Part 1

   Oh my word! Who suggested this can of worms for our first subject of things to write about? If it was not my daughter that had done it she might have to move to the top of my enemies list!

   In today’s society everyone is talking love but everyone hates everyone else. MAKES NO SENSE PEOPLE!!! This statement includes people that call themselves Christian. I am going to go back 2000 years and let you see what Christ himself said on this subject – Matthew 5:44-48 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans (unsaved) the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?do not even the publicans (unsaved) so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

   Have you looked at each other’s Facebook pages lately? I do not think the things I have seen (and even shared) are examples of love. The only things we show love for are the things we love ourselves. If it does not agree with our agenda or way of thinking we sure do have some negative vibes going on. When you or I get to Christ’s last statement there – to be perfect as your Father is perfect – is that where it all falls apart? Do you think no way, that ain’t happening dude, I can’t be perfect so I ain’t even going to try!!!

  We are not going to be perfect until we are in the presence of the LORD, but as Christians we should be striving to be as much like the Father as we possibly can. Christ came to fulfill the law because he knew we could not keep it, but keep striving people, keep striving!

AE

and continuing…

Love your enemies.  Three simple words. Seems easy enough to understand.  Yet, very few of us pause to reflect on how deeply profound these words are in life.   If we could really grasp the full meaning of these words how very different our world would be.

Stephen was a great man of God guilty of nothing more than teaching and preaching the name of Jesus.  The Bible says in Acts 7:59 and 60 “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Stephen loved the sinners (murderers) he was preaching to so much he asked God not to even charge them with his own death.  Today when someone says mean words we write them off, don’t speak to them again, then brag about it on social media.  

Jesus, hanging on the cross, said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  He didn’t call the people toxic and walk away.  He loved his enemies.  

What if we actually followed scripture?  Luke 6:27&28 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

What if instead of taking advice from the world we actually start to take advice from the King of Kings, the Creator of the universe?  What if instead of fighting with our anger, we used the greatest weapon of all?  What if we kneel down on our knees, and beg God to change the hearts of our enemies?  What if we love them, give them the gospel, and pray for them? 

GA