Love Your Enemies
We live in a nation that, at this time, is more divided than maybe any other time in our history. Satan has caused this division for his purposes. He has used men and women as his advocates of evil. The enemy has a great desire to destroy America, a nation which was founded by godly men on godly principles. Division is a great destroyer. Matthew 12:25, "But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided (be split into factions) against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." I have never seen people, even those claiming to be Christians, showing such anger and hatred toward one another. Our politicians, leaders of industry and business, and certainly the secular media are stirring this divisiveness as much as they possibly can. When I look at those I feel are the instigators of the hatred and anger, I "see" people. I hear many accusing others of being the perpetrators of hatred and intolerance and yet, they themselves are speaking hate and intolerance. When I hear people accusing others, my thought is, "Aren't you listening to yourself?" I've been saying this to myself lately, too. The words we speak have the power of life and death. Proverb 18:21a, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." We are not surprised and have somewhat come to expect this type of behavior from those who do not know Christ, however, we do not and should not expect it from those who are followers of Christ. What happens to the Christian's witness if they sound like everyone else in the world.
Ephesians 6:10-12, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." These verses remind us that our battle is not against flesh and blood (those we can see) but against the kingdom of satan.
We all have views of what we believe is Biblically right or wrong. I have established a plumb line according to my understanding of the Word of God, and have realized that I tend to judge others by that standard. I also make my views clearly known. I see those who I believe are being influenced by the devil as evil, because of the evil intent of their actions, and I say things that I should not say. It really does not matter which side of the fence you are on. I have no doubt that many of you have felt and expressed yourselves in the same way. We must pray to defeat this evil. We need to pray that God will have His way. However, we must stop hating, accusing, and battling flesh and blood.
Matthew 5:43-48, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor 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, 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 only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." So, what is the command that Jesus gave us concerning those who hate us and treat us as enemies (speaking of people)? He says to love them, bless them, do good to them and, pray for them. This is what we are to do to those we count as our enemies or even those who are the enemies of God. Do we not think that God can deal with His enemies as He sees fit?
What does the Lord say about vengeance? Romans 12:17-21, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." This goes against our natural tendencies, doesn't it? But remember, whatever God demands of us He equips and enables us to do. Looking at 1 Timothy 2:1-4, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." We are to pray for those who are in authority. We may whole heartedly disagree with them and yet, we are told to pray for them. Verse 3 also tells us that it is God's desire that all men would be saved. Every soul is precious to God. Additionally, we see in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." The Lord's will is that none should perish but that all would come to repentance. I believe we need to pray that the hold and deception of the devil that controls them would be broken. Wouldn't it be wonderful if those who are perpetrating evil would come to the saving knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ? What a great influence they would be on others who have been deceived as they themselves once were.
Donna and I have been discussing how God has been convicting us concerning our attitudes toward those we perceive as enemies of God and by extension us. The thoughts we have and the words we speak are often far from the love and compassion God commands us to have. These people are God's creation. He loves them and desires that they would not perish apart from a relationship with him. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." I realize what I am saying is not easy. We live in a physical world and are moved by what we see and hear. We see the "people" who have given themselves over to the control of the enemy to accomplish his evil schemes. We have found ourselves and others being very judgmental concerning people. It is not our place to judge. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God." James 4:12, "There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?"
Donna's and my prayer has become that we would see through God's eyes, hear with His ears, and love with His heart. We daily need the Holy Spirit's help to represent Jesus in this world. Our goal and desire is to show the love of God to the world without partiality. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible), "Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited - arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it - pays no attention to a suffered wrong. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything (without weakening). 8 Love never fails - never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end."
In all of this, I am not saying that we should ignore evil and those who are perpetrators of it. God is a God of justice and righteousness. He commands that we fight spiritual warfare. We must continue to war against satan, his schemes, and his cohorts. Although we do battle against satan's kingdom, we must be careful to not battle against flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Even though we have witnessed some encouraging signs of life in the church (seeing the hundreds of thousands who attended the Return) in response to 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."; even though the prophets have prophesied that God will work in a miraculous way, and we believe it; to date, it seems like evil has triumphed. I assure you, it has not! God, Who is sovereign and never out of control, is at work and will act in His way and time. Remember, His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. He sees and knows what we do not see and know.
I encourage you with these God-inspired words: Psalm 37:7-20, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. 15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous. 18 The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
God is still in control and always will be!
Keep praying!
Keep trusting!
God is on His throne!
The enemy will not and cannot win!