Thursday, February 16, 2012

Today's Devotional brought to you by Prayer Warrior Michelle Simpson

Love Your Enemy

Matthew 5:43-49

New King James Version (NKJV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’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,[b] 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 on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren[c]only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors[d] do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.


Loving those who are kind to us is easy. Your heart jumps for joy when you think of those who love you and have been kind to you. When you are traveling or shopping at a store you often may see something that reminds you of those who love you and have been kind to you. You may pick up a trinket or a card to give to them as a token of your love and friendship. You probably enjoy spending time with them and make sure you have an opportunity to do so on a somewhat regular basis. When you are driving down the road or meet them on the street you smile and wave.

What about your enemies or those who have intentionally or unintentionally been unkind in some way toward you? You certainly do not make plans to spend time with them. Many of us try to avoid them. If we see them coming or know they may be attending a certain function we avoid that direction or that function. If they attend the same church we do we may speak civilly to them at church because it is the Christian thing to do, but make an unkind remark behind their back.

Jesus is teaching us to love our enemies in the same manner that we love those who are our friends. How do I know this is true? Jesus is our perfect example! For three years Jesus' inner circle was comprised of 12 men. These disciples were hand picked by God. Jesus had called them to be with Him, eat with Him and learn from Him. Jesus knew Peter would forsake Him yet Peter was one of the three closest to Jesus. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him yet on the night of the betrayal, when Jesus said one would betray Him none of the disciples knew who it would be. They all began to question Jesus, some afraid that He was speaking about them. Jesus had loved everyone of His disciple so well that the betrayer was not discernible even though they had been together for three years. 

If we learn to love our enemies who knows what could happen! According to Romans 12:20 when we are kind to our enemies it is like "heaping coals of fire on his head." I believe that when we love our enemies as Christ loved His we are being the hands, feet and heart of Christ to someone who may not know Him and need Him in their lives. Remember often people are come across as unlovable when they are feeling unloved or unlovable. It is a defense mechanism and a cry for love! Be His love to someone today! See what a difference it makes...in their life and in yours!!


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