Category: Obedience

  • Love Your Enemies

    The pastor plans his sermons as far in advance as a year at our  local assembly. That makes the timing of yesterday’s text providential.

    The text? Jesus is speaking…

    “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tuniceither. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

    “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36 ESV

    A Federal election was announced this weekend here in Canada. South of us, the President is making massive changes, many impacting our country. The result? Panic, anger, hatred. The politicians demonize their opponents, and their followers drink the proverbial Kool-aid. It is happening on all sides of the political spectrum.

    People we have known for years are suddenly our enemies. Civil discourse is tossed out the window. Our social media pages are filled with horrific hate and fear-filled rants.

    I’ve had to snooze many people’s posts because of it. I read their posts and want to retaliate in a similar manner. I confess it is a struggle for me. I couldn’t hold back without the Holy Spirit working in me.

    I can easily forget that conspiracy theories aside, most of these people are well-intentioned and want the best for others. They often want a solution radically different from the one I see as correct. I can struggle to keep from throwing out relationships because of these differences.

    The text made a dialogue between myself and the Lord happen in my head. Perhaps you can relate to this to some degree.

    Love them? But Lord, do you know what they stand for?

    Bless them? But Lord…?

    Pray for them? Okay, Lord… smite them! No, Kevin! Pray for them to be drawn to me. Pray blessings, not curses. Remember, I love them, and they are created in my image.

    Pray for them? You mean so they think like I do? No, Kevin! Pray so that your heart is changed and I’m magnified.

    Lord, don’t you know how hard that is? Of course, I know. That’s why I have given you my Word and my Spirit.

    Lord, I don’t want to! Kevin, I didn’t ask if you wanted to. I commanded you to do so. You show your love for me by following my commands and loving. So you want us to “love your enemies.”

    Fine! If I have to. I guess. 

    So my friends, I will strive to trust in Him. I will do my best to love you and pray that you are blessed, even if (especially if) we disagree and somehow see each other as enemies.

    His ways are not my ways. His ways are always right. I’m going to need a lot of help from the Holy Spirit.

    I pray that you join with me in praying for those you find it difficult to love.

    Let us be known as people who love no matter what.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Are They/Them our real enemies
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living

  • What should a Christian lifestyle look like?

    Luxury car parked in front of mansion

    There is a school of Christian thought out there that teaches that  being a Christian is a guaranteed path to health, wealth, happiness, and success. They use a variety of proof texts (often out of context) to “prove” their points and pass the blame on to you for not having enough faith if it does not work. 

    This is unbiblical teaching. It is a lie straight from the pit of hell, and it smells like smoke.

    For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV

    Now, do not misunderstand me. God still heals today when it is in accordance with his will. There is joy in being a Christian (although not always what the world calls “happiness). For some people, God’s plan includes wealth and what the world would consider success. Yet none of that is guaranteed, and the fact that you may or may not have those things is not a measure of your faith.

    Being a Christian may bring trials. There will be times of walking in the desert. 

    Believers are called to give sacrificially and love people they do not like. We are called to be bearers of truth even when the truth is unpopular. It is a counter-cultural lifestyle that has little to do with “self” and self-aggrandizement. It has everything to do with our relationship with God and others.

    What should a Christian’s walk be like? To what aims should they be aspiring?

    Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:9-21 ESV

    That kind of life will bring a deeper joy than the superficial happiness of financial wealth and worldly success.

    Being a Christian is not a plan for ease. It is a plan for personal and spiritual growth. It is a way of life that puts others ahead of you.

    If it is not all ease and prosperity, why do we pursue it? Simply put, a personal relationship with Jesus is better than everything the world offers. That relationship will continue even beyond death. It will still be there when this earth is long gone. 

    Ironically, in pursuing a life of meeting the needs of others through Christ, you will come to your full potential and have your own needs met in ways you cannot imagine.

    Until next time, may you pursue the love of Christ and allow Him to envelop you.

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

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