Just how do we deal with
those who don’t like us, right or wrong? What is the proper view to have towards
those who oppose you? Towards those who hate you the most, how should you feel
towards them? Jesus’ answer was simple, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 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.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Jesus’ solution to our enemies, was never to have one! We must remember, there
can be no enemy unless you create one. In addition, there can be no battle, if
one is only left to fight with themselves. No matter what anyone thinks or
feels towards us, as Christians, we are called to love. John was adamant in
first John chapters 2, 3, and 4, where he said… “He that saith he is in the
light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness,” 1John 2:9, and “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer:
and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him,” 1John 3:15,
but most importantly, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1John 4:20. The
hallmark of those who know Christ, has been, and always will be, their capacity
to love and forgive!
In a world filled with
violence and hate, how important do you suppose it is that those who know the
true and living God, show love one towards another? Jesus said, “A
new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35) Understand,
there can be no hatred or enemy where there is love, especially like the love Christ
has shown to us! Remember, “the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal
5:22-23) So know, there can be no enemy unless you create one, and against our
enemies, they can have no war if we refuse to fight one. The admonition to all
God’s children is simple… “We know that we have passed from death unto
life, because we love the each other.” 1Jn 3:14
Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.
5/30/2017
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