LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Why is it so important to love our enemies?  Isn't it easy to be vengeful and to try and counter point on everything they do, to what end?  Do we prove ourselves greater debaters, or smarter of does pride get in the way?  Maybe the latter is true and it's not worth it. People are going to have differing opinions and some rationalize their own sin, don't we all?  Aren't we all fallen people that desperately need a Savior?  I am so thankful God forgives us and we can move on and begin again.  

When someone is going through something challenging, the best thing you can do is to pray.  Praying is part of truly following God.  God wants to know our pain, our hurts and He understands because His Son went through every difficult and challenging storm imaginable.  The next time someone is honking behind you and going into rage, stop and put yourself in their situation and do everything you can to help them. 

Christ asked us to "turn the other cheek" because "wrath" never answers or solves anything.  He was right and its ok to be angry at sin, but never the sinner.  It's just not worth it when we do this.  Sure it is easy to react and be brought into situations where we can be provoked, but it isn't worth it to begin the fight or even continue in this vein.

Here is a problem I have, my own pride.  Literally even as an adult I have been brought into "fights" where I have lost my temper, went into rage and falsely made statements I am embarrassed of for so many reasons.  Did you know that my own insecurity can be the greatest weakness to bring me down, unless I am willing to change the way I approach conflict, breathe, have peace and walk in His light.

Thank you for the conflicts is "how" we should react, but I just have not succeeded in this area.  The older I get the more I understand why wrath is never the answer.  Don't allow provocative situations to take you back into the mire when you have worked so hard to get out of the sticky stuff.  Life is just simply too short.  One book reminded me of this truth, Ken Sande's THE PEACEMAKER.  This was a fresh read for me and something deep within my heart I felt so grateful to have read.

Love your enemies, be kind to those who revile you and persecute you.  Pray for them and just know, maybe they are going through something so horrific you can't even imagine.  This will make you love more and judge less.  Forgive me Lord when I end up on the judgement seat and help me to be slow to anger so that I might please you.

Love in Christ IS the only answer.

​Kevin