Saturday, 23 August 2008

• Love Your Enemies

  
  "“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you." - Luke 6:27-28 (NKJV)

  One of the hardest lessons God has for us, in my opinion, is the one in the verse above. It is difficult enough for humans to accept this principle in theory, let alone to practice it. It goes against so much of what we have learned in our short existence and what our instincts tell us. When someone hurts us in any way it brings out negative feelings towards them so easily that it is hard to go against them. Especially when it seems so much more logical to be angry back, to defend oneself, to fight. Why, after all, should you take this kind of evil treatment lying down? They have no right to be like this to you! How awful a person they must be, right? Yet Jesus teaches so plainly in the verses of Matthew 5:38-48 and Luke 6:27-36 that we are to do the exact opposite -- that we are to treat these people with the same love and kindness we would treat our closest friend or loved one.

  Although I have agreed with this concept (however hard to practice) for a long time, God really had a chance to help me put it into action today. Someone quite blatantly used myself and my mom for money today in an awful fashion that forced us to either pay up or suffer from more issues. They offended us greatly, treated us badly, got greedy, and all involving my poor dad who recently passed away. I won't get into personal details, but lets just say a fair amount of you would be rather shocked to know the whole story. To make it worse this money is very important to us and the person knows it, as we were only a few months ago almost living on the street.

  So, as I'm sitting there trying not to get upset, God flashed these verses into my mind:

  "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." - Matthew 5:39-42 (NKJV)

  It was like a light going on in my mind and I immediately felt at peace. This was what God wanted me to do. He didn't want me to speak up and fight it, to be offended, to be angry. He wanted me to humbly offer the large sum of money that this person was trying to get out of us, and to do it with the same compassion and willingness I would a friend. Just as God "is kind to the unthankful and evil" (Luke 6:35 NKJV). After all, do any of us deserve the ample blessings that He gives us on a daily basis? Not in the slightest! Yet He gives them willingly, excited to give His beloved children good gifts (Matt. 7:11).

  When I stepped back and looked at the situation, I realized it was only really my self-rightous pride and my fear of future events (after losing the money) that even caused me to want to fight. Both of which God has warned about in His Word. We are to be humble and to not worry about the future because God will provide for us (Matt. 6:25). I know how much He has already provided and helped us this far, so why stop trusting Him now?

  As important as being kind and generous to those who offend us is, what really is at the heart of this message from Jesus?

  "“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." - Luke 6:32, 35-36 (NKJV)

  Love is what it all comes down to, as it is with most Godly principles. Love others simply because you know that God does, whom you also love. Ask yourself how He would treat this person and what blessings you can give to them, without looking for anything in return. Doing so will bring you rewards from your Lord as you can now be called one of His sons. What a wonderful blessing and privilege that is!

  So, next time someone offends you (no matter how serious it may be), turn to the Lord and ask that He help you to live out His will in the situation -- that you may show compassion rather than wrath to your foe for His sake. Do so not to gain anything, but know that you are pleasing Him. For in the end we all must answer to God in regards to our actions in this life and we will be judged according to them. If your enemy has done wrong God will take the appropriate measures in dealing with them, whereas you may stand blameless before Him because you showed mercy as He commanded you (as we are able by the grace of His Spirit within us). By returning the wrath that is aimed at us we are sinking to their level and are therefor deserving of the same treatment back, giving into exactly what Satan wants. To love is to allow God's wonderful character to shine through us, conquering Satan and making his accusations against us in this situation invalid.

  There is an amazing amount of peace in accepting this and putting it to work in your life. Believe me, I know from experience. A life filled with bitterness and anger is a very unhappy one, not only for the one you are aiming these emotions at but for yourself as well.

  Blessings and Love,
  Sarah

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