March 6, 2014 Love Your Enemy (1)
Thursday March 6, 2014
Love your Enemy (1) Jesus gave very clear instructions about loving our enemies and doing good to those who despitefully use us. He lived it! He was physically abused, despised and rejected more than any other man and yet from the cross He asked His Father to forgive those who had perpetrated the injustices against Him. If we follow Jesus, how can we choose to hold unforgiveness in our hearts especially when Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the whole world?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)
Did Jesus mean I am to forgive that person who physically abused me and caused me to feel shame for the suffering that they caused me? What about that person who committed fraud against me and left me with the consequences? What about my parents who did not meet all my needs when I was a child? What if they didn’t want me and gave me away to another? What if? What if? Put your own situation after the “What if”. Regardless of what has happened to us, as Jesus’ followers we are instructed to love our enemies. It seems so wrong to us that the sun rises on the evil and the good. Why doesn’t it just rise on the good? While we are on earth evil things will continue to happen because the hearts of some people are continually wicked. We blame those wicked people for ruining our lives so why should we forgive them? When we think like that we are forgetting that the person who harmed us still has to give an account of their life to God. Unless they have repented and made amends to us, they will have to account for what they have done. We will also have to give an account for withholding forgiveness if we choose not to obey the teachings of God. Why let the wickedness of others impact our future with Christ? We will never be at peace in our minds and hearts while we hold unforgiveness there. We are not the wicked people’s judge, God is!
I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 NLT)
In order that we may live at peace with everyone around us we need to make up our minds to faithfully follow the teachings of Jesus for He said that the peace He will give us is not of this world.
Today, why not reassess your position in Christ and leave the consequences of other’s sins to Him. He is a righteous judge!
©2014 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca resources
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.