Love Your Enemies

When criminals are on the news, people often say they deserve it. Everything they had done should be dealt with in prison. Even the judge doesn’t care if somebody repents before God. The person who committed a crime still needs to spend time in prison. Similar to God, He will punish all willful sinners and show His wrath upon them in death. 4If they lived and died in habitual sin then there is no forgiveness for their sins. Jesus will have mercy upon us, up until the end, as long as we repent. 1David taught that living for God will bring down His mercy but not to the transgressors of God. They should not receive mercy. He wanted punishment to be handed down to the wicked, for they deserved it. To him, the evil doers should get their just do. But know that anyone that has ever sinned in this life has all fallen short. All of us should be punished for what we have done, in the eyes of God. But God has done something amazing instead. Jesus Christ came down and paid for our sins on the cross. And because of that, everyone can have forgiveness of sins. Jesus asks that we simply come as we are. Come with a repentant heart and He will do the rest. Come broken, come sinful. As long as we come to Him He is willing to do something amazing. Jesus has always been willing to do miraculous things in the lives of those that believe in Him. Even things that were once impossible can become a reality. But if God can do such great things for us, don’t you think He can do the same for others too? He sure can and does so every day, every second. No longer throw judgement upon other people but pray for their needs. Pray that they might find God and that God can have mercy upon their souls. It is an amazing thing that God can forgive us, though we are sinners.

The same love that God has shown to us leads us to forgive one another. 2Jesus has taught that he shows mercy upon us as we have mercy upon others. Pray for your loved ones. Pray for your friends. Pray for anyone in need. Pray that God will show mercy upon them. Pray that God will let them live a little longer that they might repent and not be punished. That people’s hearts may be convicted of their sins and come to Jesus. Only the Lord can wash away their sins. Jesus taught, 3“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” And 3“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”. He also said, “love your enemies”. 1This is in stark contrast to how David wrote in Psalm 59. David asked God to scatter his enemies and 1“consume them in wrath”. However, this is not God’s will. We are to live like Jesus does and love one another. People may want others to be harmed because of their evil deeds but God does not. He still has his arms open wide to receive even the vilest of sinners, if they might come to Him. If that same power lives inside of us there would be much more peace on earth. People would be treated much better. Let God dwell inside of you that His light may shine. So many more people could be saved if we were an example for Jesus Christ. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they saw our great love for Jesus and sought after it too. That can happen. Sometimes all it takes is opening our mouths to other people and witnessing of God’s great love. People need to hear our story for it is important Share it with others. Don’t be shy but open your mouth and God will give you boldness. He will give you confidence. Know that the Lord loves everyone no matter who we are. No matter how far we have gone. No matter how deep in sin, there is still forgiveness.

Let us pray:
Lord, I know that it is so easy to judge others when they have wronged us but I am grateful that You have taught me mercy. Thank You for saving a wretched sinner, such as I, and showing kindness towards me. Though I didn’t deserve it. I deserved the wrath of God and everlasting punishment but instead You forgave me and had mercy upon my soul. How great is Your love? I have never experienced such love and affection. Thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You for teaching me that there is redemption for sins. I pray that Your same mercy will always be in my heart towards others. When enemies come before me, help me to love on them. Even those that despise me, I will love. Lord, prick their hearts that they might find You. Show them the true meaning of love. I believe in You. I trust in You. You can do all things. I pray that more people will be saved. Lead me to the broken. Let Your light so shine in my life that they might see Your goodness, oh Lord. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1Psalm 59:1-5 (KJV)
1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

2Matthew 5:43-48 (KJV)
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

3Matthew 22:35-40 (KJV)
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

4Hebrews 10:26-31 (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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