Last night while I was working I was suddenly uncomfortable with a customer and instantly I was convicted of my feelings by the Holy Spirit.
I suddenly seen that customer as my enemy and suddenly everything changed before my very eyes as I remembered the Lord Jesus as he said,
‘love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.’ matthew 5:44
and I suddenly realized that the Lord loved every person in their sin as he loved me in my sin. I am no better than my enemy is. Our enemies are not only the people around us, in our homes, workplaces, churches or community, they are all over the world.
We don’t get to choose who our enemies are and who is not, who is worth praying for and who is not, who is worth dying for and who is not.
Our Lord Jesus died on the cross for that sinner, our enemy; he died for the Muslim who flies planes into buildings killing thousands to the Nazi who kills millions of Jews to the liar, the cheater, the murderer, the very people who stand for evil (in our eyes but what is evil, what is sin?)
He died for the Politicians who we complain about, to the very bosses we work for who treat us with very little integrity as they work our husbands into the ground so they make more money.
He died for everyone and he doesn’t place us in Classes, Races, Countries, Families, Christians, Sins, Rich or Poor. He loves us all!!!!
‘for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’ Matthew 5:45
Praise to our Good, Merciful, and Forgiving God, I love Him more and more each day!
When we are open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we are able to walk in daily communion with God. We are able to see through His eyes, and learn in the moment.
Praise be to God that “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8
Keep shining that light to those in your path, may you continue to be a testimony to His love and goodness.
By: fivepeasinapod on May 16, 2009
at 9:56 pm
wow–the Lord just today took me to that verse (and I must admit, I went kicking and screaming a little). Did you know that the word He used for enemy here is the same word He used when He said the devil is our enemy in Matthew 13? And love here is “agapo” which means, “welcome/entertain”…..That means that I am to open my arms to and love passionately those who I feel have treated me as maliciously as the devil. Ouch! That’s so hard to do in ourselves! Only the grace of God gives us the strength to do so!
Thank you for writing about this. Bless you!
By: Chrystal on May 18, 2010
at 7:33 am