LOVE YOUR ENEMY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 2022.

SUBJECT: LOVE YOUR ENEMY!

Memory verse: "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men." (Romans 12 vs 17.)

READ: Matthew 5 vs 38 - 44:

5:38: You have heard that it it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

5:39: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

5:40: if anyone wants to sue you and take away your tonic, let him have your cloak also.

5:41: And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

5:42: Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn not away.

5:43: You have heard that it was said, ‘You shalt love Your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

5:44: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, and persecute you,

5:45: that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

INTIMATION:

If you love your enemies, treat them well, and do good to those who wrong you, that will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life. These verses in the passage we read today summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we are not excusing his misdeeds. We are recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sin—just as Christ did for us. 

The principle of loving one’s neighbor fulfills all that the law would command concerning one’s duty toward his fellow man. A true heart is not one of malice or hate. Hearts of malice and hate identify those individuals who are of the world. The character that Jesus has explained identifies those who are of the spirit of the Father, and thus, sons of the Father. God’s love is impartial. He loved us when we were His enemies. 

In our fallen world, it is often deemed acceptable by some to tear people down, verbally or get back at them if we feel hurt. However, Jesus teaches that we should pay back wrongs with a blessing, such as praying for the offenders. In God’s kingdom, revenge is an unacceptable behavior, as is insulting a person, no matter how indirectly it is done. Rise above getting back at those who hurt you. Instead of reacting angrily to these people, pray for them.

Wrong that is committed against another originates from Satan. Christians must resist the temptations of Satan (James 4 vs 7). However, retaliation against those whom Satan uses to promote his work is not a Christian principle. Therefore, when we treat those who wrong us, and our enemies with kindness and forgiveness, we are frustrating the works of Satan in this world.

Instead of demanding rights, give them up freely! According to Jesus, it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it. This is possible only for those who give themselves fully to God, because only He can deliver people from natural selfishness. We must trust the Holy Spirit to help us show love to those for whom we may not feel love. 

When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score but to love and forgive. This is not natural—it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to love as He does. Instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you. 

No Christian should seek to get even with someone who has wronged him. It is not the place of any Christian to seek revenge. Revenge is not the work or behavior of the Christian. Revenge of those who have wronged the innocent is the work of God. By telling us not to retaliate, Jesus keeps us from taking the law into our own hands. By loving and praying for our enemies, we can overcome evil with good. Christians should not even retaliate by withholding from those who would ask of them. They must willingly give when compelled by those who would demand of them according to law. 

Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right. Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need, and love means acting to meet the person’s need. Whenever you see anybody in need, there is no good reason for refusing to help. There is no reward in a love that acts out of selfish motives to do something for others for the purpose of receiving something in return. True love must be unconditional. It must not seek reward. 

In Luke 23 vs 34, Jesus asked God to forgive the people who were putting Him to death—Jewish leaders, Roman soldiers and politicians, bystanders—and God answered that prayer by opening up the way of salvation even to Jesus’ murderers. Jesus was suffering the most horrible, painful death ever devised by sinful man, and he looked at the people responsible for His suffering and eventual death and prayed for their forgiveness. And because we are all sinners, we all played a part in putting Jesus to death. The Good News is that God is gracious. He will forgive us and give us new life through His Son.

Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings. God’s form of retaliation is most effective and yet very difficult to do. By returning good for evil, we are acknowledging God as the balancer of all accounts and trusting Him to be the judge.

The thought of being kind to enemies is always startling in a world where revenge is the common form of justice. God not only introduced this idea to the Israelites, He made a law! Following the laws of right living is hard enough with friends talk less of enemies. When we apply God’s laws of fairness and kindness to our enemies, we show how different we are from the world.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your love for me is unparalleled. I cannot thank You enough for all You have done for me. O Lord, endue me with the spirit of boundless love that I may love as Christ loved in obedience to Your word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!