"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;" Matt 5:44
To be sure, we all, if not now then at some point in our lives, have endured adversarial relationships. There are so many ways that we as individuals find ourselves at cross purposes with others. These situations can range from mild avoidance to open hostility. We are often involved in employing an offensive strategy of retribution for past transgressions or a defensive strategy when we are under attack. This seldom, if ever, accomplishes anything at all.
Whenever we think about our enemies, we should immediately think about ourselves and our relationship with God. He has said, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20
We must also remember that at one time, we were enemies of our very Creator, yet He loved us and saved us through the sacrifice of his only begotten Son. We know from the scene at the garden of Gethsemane that this was not an easy thing. Likewise, it may be difficult to reconcile with your own enemies. The Lord, however, has given us both the command and the example to love despite it all. To be sure, your enemies may not respond favorably to your overtures. Know that God never commanded or equipped you to make your enemies love you, but for you to love them demonstrably through prayer and good deeds.
The more enemies you love, the fewer you will have.
[Memory verse of the week: Rev 3:20-21]
In Revival,
Lee
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