DEVOTIONAL INSIGHTS & REFLECTIONS

Love Your Enemies - December 19

Today, God seems to be speaking to me about the necessity of loving my enemies...

…You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.… ~Matthew 5:43-45

But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.… ~Luke 6:27-29

…For I have come to turn ‘A man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;… ~Matthew 10:35-37

My own inclination is to steer clear of known enemies as a means of self-preservation, but God isn't keen on "self-preservation." Sometimes we need to suffer humiliation in order to draw us closer to Him and to root out that part of us that doesn't want to "let go." For He says,

…Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.… ~John 12:24-26

If my humiliation results in the promotion of His Kingdom and His righteousness in the life of another, that is A-okay with Him... because He is all about submission to Him---His will and purposes in the earth, in the lives of people.

We are called to lay our lives down as He laid His life down... lay down pride, self-preservation, comfort, ego, self-esteem, folly, gluttony, self-pity, self-indulgence... convenience.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;… ~Matthew 5:38-40

In everything that we do or leave undone, say or leave unsaid, let us first seek His face in prayer and submission and follow Him... in every circumstance despite what it costs us.

Serving Him is not for the faint of heart.