"But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!"
Matthew 5:44
Matthew 5:44
Do I even have enemies? Honestly I never really gave it much thought. I hang out with the people I enjoy being around and if there is someone that I don't see eye-to-eye with, I just don't hang around them. So in my mind I don't have enemies. Wrap it up and tie the pretty bow -closed subject, until today.
The words enemy and persecute made me open the subject. An enemy is someone who is hostile, hateful, or in opposition against another. To persecute means to in any way harass, bother, trouble, interfere, or annoy another person. Are you beginning to see how the subject was "reopened."
On any given day, without a doubt someone could be hateful toward me by bothering interfering or annoying me. For example: the person who pulls out in front of me in traffic or takes my parking place at the grocery store. The person at movie who refuses to silence her cell phone.
Today I see that an enemy is not an individual who is lurking around the corner stalking or trying to physically harm me. It is not the person who opposes my political or religious beliefs. An enemy can be anyone, at any given time; kids husbands, friends, family members, or co-workers. Basically anyone, who for a season is bothersome, causing trouble or just annoying me. With the definition in front of us, how do we respond to such individuals?
Jesus tells us specifically how to respond to our enemies.
The words enemy and persecute made me open the subject. An enemy is someone who is hostile, hateful, or in opposition against another. To persecute means to in any way harass, bother, trouble, interfere, or annoy another person. Are you beginning to see how the subject was "reopened."
On any given day, without a doubt someone could be hateful toward me by bothering interfering or annoying me. For example: the person who pulls out in front of me in traffic or takes my parking place at the grocery store. The person at movie who refuses to silence her cell phone.
Today I see that an enemy is not an individual who is lurking around the corner stalking or trying to physically harm me. It is not the person who opposes my political or religious beliefs. An enemy can be anyone, at any given time; kids husbands, friends, family members, or co-workers. Basically anyone, who for a season is bothersome, causing trouble or just annoying me. With the definition in front of us, how do we respond to such individuals?
Jesus tells us specifically how to respond to our enemies.
- Pray them
- Love them
- Do them good
- Lend to them
11 Comments:
Wendy,
These sections were my nuggets too. The church we have been members of for the last 15 years is going through some hard times. The congregation is divided; there is much internal strife. Our pastor's wife is very heartsick about it all! She has confessed to me how she is really struggling with the lack of love she sees all around her and she is finding it very hard to live these verses.
I sent to her my memory verse from Aug. 15; 1 Peter 4:8-11
8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen
The passages from today's readings, though difficult to follow when you feel in the midst of persecution (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 5:35-36), are also encouraging at their core. If we persevere, we will truly be acting as children of the Most High and our reward will be great.
Please pray for my friend and for the congregation that they will be infused with love for one another, that they will have compassion and forgiveness, that they will lift each other up in prayer and will overcome this very difficult time.
Thank you,
Karen
Everyone, thank you for your words of encouragement yesterday. I try to follow the Lord even in my fear, but some days it's just hard. Circumstances are really challenging right now. Everywhere I look I just feel like I'm clinging for dear life and needing to see God's intervention. You all blessed me abundantly by your kind words and prayers. God is going to make me an overcomer!
Oh Karen, my heart aches for the church you attend. Twila Parish sings a song that says:
"‘Cause when we are divided
I can hear Him crying
And I can’t be a part of breaking His heart anymore
I can’t do it anymore
So brother, I commit my love to you."
Praying for the body of Christ.
Wendy, I attended a Beth Moore simulcast recently and it was all on relationship. She highlighted four connections we encounter and called them, "Joy", "Testy", "Foe" and "Far". "Foe" of course represented our enemies. She said that difficult people and even enemies have been chosen and positioned and designed for us, to complete our character and bring us gain. They bring out the worst in us - they bring it up and God wants to bring it out - all that hatred and anger right out of our lives. Without God's power it is impossible to love our enemies.
The Lord, in His compassion, drew my attention to a little "offside" this morning, but it is so in keeping with yesterdays thoughts. “James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them ‘Sons of Thunder’)” Mark 3:17
I have some nicknames. My dad alternates between calling me ‘Squeaky’, ‘Peanut’, and ‘Bells’. ‘Squeaky’ because of the tiny baby noises I made when I was little. ‘Peanut’ because of my size at birth, weighing only one pound. ‘Bells’ as an abbreviated form of ‘Joybells’.
Jesus nicknamed James and John, ‘Sons of Thunder’.
‘Sons of Thunder’. Wouldn’t you like to know that significance? Although many commentaries would suggest it was because they were noisy or angry, I struggle to accept that reasoning. Why? Because Jesus nicknamed them. I just can’t imagine Jesus calling anyone anything that would even hint of cruel.
Remember this childhood rhyme? “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” That is so not true! Names do hurt. They inflict a deeper pain. Ugly. Shy. Fearful. Stupid. Dumb. The wounds they inflict often last a lifetime and we are left with a scar over our hearts that refuses to heal. That’s why I believe Jesus' nickname for James and John had to denote something positive. Maybe because they knew God as their Father, they were sons of power, filled with His might.
I read that when Jesus changed a name, it was usually to establish a new identity. It was also possibly because God had them destined for a new mission. “The name was a way to let them in on the divine plan and also to assure them that God’s plan would be fulfilled in them.”
If you have read the book “Hinds Feet on High Places”, you will know that God changed several names in that story. My favourite was little “Much Afraid”. How I identified with her character through each chapter. All my life that name as followed me. She became “Grace and Glory”.
One day the Lord will change all our names.
“…To him who overcomes (conquers)…I will give him a white stone, with a new name engraved on the stone which no-one knows or understands except he who receives it.” (Rev.2:17 Amplified)
Can’t you hardly wait to hear God call you by His new name? I wonder what it will be…
“I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast
Lonely or afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness
Overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks my face.”
(D. J. Butler)
Sorry for being so long today girls. Love you all so much!!!!
Group hug! ((( ))) Have a God blessed day,
Joy
Friday! Whew...where did the week go?
Wendy, I was going right along with you...(your first paragraph :)) You opened up that verse a WHOLE lot! Another verse, "if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment, (Matthew 5:22). Double OUCH! !
Can you fathom sitting on the mountain side listening to Jesus teach? The Beatitudes guide our conduct and character. The O.T. and the N.T. are both unparalleled- for they are the only inspired Word of God. We have His instruction to help us increase our:
*spiritual wisdom
*spiritual food
*and to guide us each day.
Oh, I desire the pure spiritual milk...I cry out for this nourishment," (I Pet. 2:2).
Prayers coming your way! Lori -AZ
ps karen~i will be praying for your congregation. Like you said, to "persevere" the Most High is ultimately in charge. He is in control and nothing happens today without His permission. When we don't understand our circumstances or situations, we have to be thankful that He does. Thank you, El Elyon (Most High) for having a purpose in everything. We do as Jesus did, 'pray and not give up and like Paul reminded us: pray without ceasing.
Joy-Loved your additional info!
Thank you! Thinking about, "Sons of Thunder," maybe they loudly preached the good news...were explosively and moved about with a passionate desire to preach what was on Jesus' heart...hhhmmm. :)
Lori
Happy Friday Sisters~
Wendy, Karen, Joy, Lori thanks already for the insights this morning. Along with the enemy line of thinking, Jesus says in the Beatitudes that blessed are we when people mock us because we are His followers. I marked that in my Bible because that is a reality in my life. Not as much as it used to be, but I still do get made fun of and it can cause feelings of resentment and hurt and those little seeds can grow into big seeds that affect the whole relationship. God has shown me how to keep giving things to Him and trust in Him that He is in control. I have to do what I know He wants me to do and the rest will be taken care of :)
The passage that stuck out to me most this morning was Luke 6:12-13, "One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles." I was thinking about the extremely important decision that was before Him of choosing the twelve and what did He do? He went to the Father in prayer, all night He prayed. I think Christ set a wonderful example for us to follow. When we are facing very important decisions, we must also spend a lot of time in prayer, seeking God and His will. If Jesus needed to this as God Himself, how much more do we need to seek Him to help us in the decisions we must make? I know for me I need Him to guide every day, even the smallest of things. I just really got a lot out of the example Jesus set here in this passage.
Hope you have a wonderful day ladies! Prayers coming your way this morning Karen.
In Him,
Brandee, TN
Hi ladies,
Yet another prayer request...
Without too much detail - my MIL has survived/lived with so many illnesses she is literally a walking miracle. She is currently undergoing her second mastectomy this am. I am shocked to learn that it is now considered day surgery...her last one she was in hospital for 5 weeks.
I ask for your prayers that Elliot's grandma continue to be around with us for a very long time to come and that the Lord pour out his healing for a quick recovery and to restore her body back to His divine arrangement, to rid her body of any remaining cancer or the other sicknesses she has been battling.
A quick Elliot update - we went to the doc today, he is gaining like a machine - at 4 weeks he now weights in at 9 lbs, 12 oz (he was born 7lbs 8oz).
Thanks again for your support,
Jodie
I'm so glad to hear about Elliot Jodie! This must put your mind at ease!
Praying for your Mother-in-law too. I am shocked at how cavalierly these major surgeries are treated! I will be praying for her full recovery and long life.
Karen
oh yeah, just had that happen on the way home from picking my boys up from school...some older gentleman almost ran me off the road to get into my lane and when I honked the horn he did a nasty sign with his hand...
oh boy do I need to change my attitude! Thanks for writing today!!!
Jodie, just read your prayer request for your mother in law. Stopping now to pray.
Thanks for the comments, Wendy... never really considered those time-stealing, anger-provoking distractions as enemies, just me being irritable and impatient! Will pay closer attention to what Satan is trying to distract me from accomplishing.
Jodie, will keep your MIL in prayer. Your sweet Elliot will be a good motivator for Grandma's recovery :)
Have a wonderful weekend, sisters... God is doing a mighty work in me, and He is using you to do it! Matt 5:3, "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." I am poor in health right now, but He is here in my time of need... I am rich indeed!
Wendy,
I have been with you all year but have not posted in about 6 months. I am finally now caught up to date with my reading so am now going into the blog again. Oh, how I have missed you ladies.
My brother passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest in June at the young age of 48. The strength that I gained by this Bible reading is immeasurable. Thank you so much for following your call from God to lead us through this year with Him.
Ah, love our enemies...I agree with the above posts...usually don't think like I have any real enemies until I read God's Word and see who He considers an enemy.
Lord I pray that you help each and everyone woman in this Bible study to live lives that are pleasing to you and to realize our need for Our Father in Heaven.
I am glad to be back and hope to check in daily.
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