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In Hope

Love Your Enemy

Tuesday January 22, 2019

Jesus gave us very clear instructions about loving our enemies and doing good to those who despitefully use us.  Many of us got caught up in addiction because we didn't know how to handle the harm inflicted on us by people who did not treat us as they should have.  To recover life as God intended, we need to learn how to deal with these relationships.




Jesus was despised, physically abused, and rejected more than any other human and yet from the cross He asked His Father to forgive those who had acted unjustly towards Him.  The challenge for us in our life with God in recovery is to be like Jesus and offer forgiveness to our enemies and those who have mistreated us.

“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)

As followers of Jesus, regardless of the injustice done to us, we are instructed to love our enemies.  We are reluctant to do this and ask, “why should we forgive them?”  We do so because unforgiveness is like a cancer that eats away at our soul.  Those who have harmed us will have to account to God for what they have done.  It’s time for us to forgive and turn them over to God’s righteous judgment.

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)



 Prayer:  Heavenly Father, it is hard for me to love those who hurt me.  Please work in my heart so that I can forgive and release those who have harmed me to You.  Amen

©2018 Partners in Hope  
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

Audio for Love Your Enemy

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