It is REALLY hard for me to follow the words of Jesus to "love your enemies," how about you? However, as a follower (not just believer) of Jesus, how can I pick and choose the Words from God's Holy Word that I will or will not accept as truth?
For me, it all comes down to what side of things I am on - God's or my own? If I don't trust and obey that all of His words are true, than how can I claim or proclaim that I am His, a true follower of Jesus? I can't!
With all that is going on in our Country, I believe that may easily be destroyed from within, as so many other great nations throughout history. It seems that we are all but surrounded by enemies of our way of life, and that Christians will soon face severe ridicule and persection.
Though, I would have rather not read the words of Jesus to "love your enemies," so I could play ignorant, I am serious about finding my way toward mercy, grace and real concern and affection for my fellowman, even those in darkness, blinded by hate, given to evil and wickedness, deceptive and deceitful - anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-Christian. And, I know that I will not be able to muster up a single morsel of mercy or genuine love for those who hate God and His people, unless His Holy Spirit is in me, convicting me of my own sin and convincing me of being right before Him and in His favor.
In these timultuous times, I seek to hold onto the eternal hope that I know is real, hoping and praying for those known and unknown to me who want to destroy the foundations and fabric of our way of life. I pray that by a miracle, they will realize what they are doing, repent from their evil ways and be redeemed and saved by God's forgiveness and grace. This really could be an amazing time of spiritual revival for us as a land and people, and for that I am fervently praying.
How can we love our enemies? I believe it is by realizing that we are all sinners and that it is only by God's grace and mercy that, as my Dad once told me, "that could be you!" I know what I am capable of; I have lied, stolen, hated, wandered from God, disobeyed Him when I knew He has told me through His Word what is right and best for me, stepped outside of His will, been unforgivng, judgemental and critical of others, and desired to do things my way, rather than His way.
Well, no more! He has humbled me (for which I am eternally grateful) and if I have learned anything at all, it is that His way is the only way!
Will you join me in praying for our enemies - those who we, without God's grace and mercy, we could easily be? It is not a coincidence that we are called and chosen to follow Jesus, and we certainly could not apply His words in our life, without His saving grace and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. May we be spirit-filled, faithful people of God who are "light and salt" for the lost.
In Jesus Name,
Angie, "a mom like you"
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