Why We Should Love Our Enemies

[ronscarpa]

Why We Should Love Our Enemies

Our WORD for Wednesday, 5/13/2015

 

 “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27) 

 

There are two main reasons why Christians should love their enemies and do good to them.

One is that it reveals something of the way God is. God is merciful.

“He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

So when Christians live this way, we show something of what God is like.

The second reason is that the hearts of Christians are satisfied with God and are not driven by the craving for revenge or self-exaltation or money or earthly security.

God has become our all-satisfying treasure and so we don’t treat our adversaries out of our own sense of need and insecurity, but out of our own fullness with the satisfying glory of God.

Hebrews 10:34 states: “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property [that is, without retaliation], since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” 

What takes away the compulsion of revenge is our deep confidence that this world is not our home, and that God is our utterly sure and all-satisfying reward.

So in both these reasons for loving our enemy we see the main thing: God is shown to be who he really is as a merciful God and as gloriously all-satisfying.

The ultimate reason for being merciful is to glorify God — to make him look great in the eyes of man.

 

[chess]

Ron,

 

....not really sure the folks at ISIS would take that to heart(?).

[umbertino]

Ron,

 

....not really sure the folks at ISIS would take that to heart(?).

 And / Or many other folks  in this part of the world ( West)

[10 YEARS LATER]

I would LOVE to see Americas' enemies dead. I've witnessed firsthand what turning the other cheek delivers in this day and age.

 

Deliver your enemies to their god - Strength Through Superior Firepower, Absolute Retaliation & Exterminate with Extreme Prejudice.

 

THAT ! . . . is the only language your enemies understand. I'll leave the praying to those that walk that path. . . for me

[Nelg]

But whether one takes it to heart or not, it is the true spirit of Christ.  

Good lesson, but one that is not heard.  We are too much into what the flesh and the world wants and not what Christ wants for us.  

I have been teaching First Peter with the background of the persecution going on in their time.  Then we make applications at the possibility of persecution coming into the saints life today.  The first two classes seemed to hit hard at revealing how many would respond if they were confronted with similar circumstances. 

We have a long way to go.  We want to "walk in the Spirit" without giving up our "thinking in the flesh."  

I pray to God that we change before the Lord returns.  

[Nelg]

I would LOVE to see Americas' enemies dead. I've witnessed firsthand what turning the other cheek delivers in this day and age.

 

Deliver your enemies to their god - Strength Through Superior Firepower, Absolute Retaliation & Exterminate with Extreme Prejudice.

 

THAT ! . . . is the only language your enemies understand. I'll leave the praying to those that walk that path. . . for me

And, if you are in the military or police force, you are ordained to do so.  Protect us. Keep us safe.  Keep us free. But the saint has the responsibility to do so.  I was there once long ago.  Now it is your turn; and I will have the peace, and security to live without danger. 

[dantach]

He said " The law says thou salt not murder, but I say whoever calls another a fool is guilty."

Then he went around a corner and confronted the Scribes and the Pharisees. He accused

them, " Snakes, vipers, scum of the earth." A little tougher than fool.

[Nelg]

He said " The law says thou salt not murder, but I say whoever calls another a fool is guilty."

Then he went around a corner and confronted the Scribes and the Pharisees. He accused

them, " Snakes, vipers, scum of the earth." A little tougher than fool.

Ok, explain what you are trying to say.  

[chess]

In Biblical Times (the Old Testament) did not G-d wreak havoc, as He deemed necessary?

[Nelg]

In Biblical Times (the Old Testament) did not G-d wreak havoc, as He deemed necessary?

The qualifier is "as He deemed necessary."  He is God and not man.  He can do with His creation what He wills.  However, those whom He "wreaked havoc" needed to be removed.