2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
It occurred to me that a series of devotions on the subject of love should include one on one of the toughest assignments God gives us-to love our enemies. Sin is defined as anything which separates us from God. Sin actually makes us God’s enemies. That was our status from the time of Adam’s original sin [GN 3: 6]. Until Christ’s death on the cross, we didn’t have any choice in the matter. We were born sinners and would remain sinners [RO 3: 23]. However, once the Son died on the cross, a way was made open for us to choose not to sin, to repent from it, and to have faith in Him. [RO 3: 22-25]. If someone who had been an irritant, an enemy in your life came up to you and asked you to allow your only child to suffer and die for his sake, would you be willing to make this sacrifice? God was. RO 5: 8-11, “But God has shown us how much He loves us-it was while we were still sinners that He Christ died for us! By His death we are now put right with God; how much more then, will we be saved by Him from God’s anger! We were God’s enemies, but He made us His friends through the death of His Son. Now that we are God’s friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ’s life! But that is not all; we rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has now made us God’s friends.” It is hard enough for us to make sacrifices for a friend; imagine what it is like to do so for an enemy. Then, we can have an idea of the compassionate, unselfish heart that is God’s.
Understanding the Jewish culture is important to gaining a deeper insight into Jesus Christ Himself. That is because He is a product of that culture. That is why I keep going back often to share with you various rules and regulations found in the book of Leviticus. They give insight into God’s agenda for His people, the rules by which Christ lived during His time on earth. Here are a few from LV 19: 11-13, “Do not steal or cheat or lie. Do not make a promise in My name if you do not intend to keep it; that brings disgrace on My name. I am the Lord your God. Do not take advantage of anyone or rob him. Do not hold back the wages of someone you have hired not even for one night.” LV 19: 15-18, “Be honest and just when you make decision in legal cases; do not show favoritism to the poor or fear the rich. Do not spread lies about anyone, and when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can help him. I am the Lord. Do not bear a grudge against anyone, but settle your differences with him, so that you will not commit a sin because of him. Do not take revenge on anyone or continue to hate him, but love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord.” It is sad that so many people have broken that code of behavior. Our society would certainly be a better place if more people lived by it. Christ surely did.
When God told Moses how Israelite society should be organized, He instituted cities of refuge as a means of dealing with a very sophisticated problem, the issue of premeditation versus accidental murder. NU 35: 13-15, “Choose six cities, three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.” It was clear that God wanted the civil laws of the land to adjudicated with fairness. What God was doing in setting down this system was to prevent the kind of grudge-holding that gets passed down from generation to generation between people. The rest of NU 35, which I hope you will read, gives the details of what should be done when various circumstances surround the death of person and what punishments are fair. The importance of mentioning all of this is to set the foundation of ideals not only for ancient Jewish society or that of Christ’s time, but for our behavior today as well. Obviously, it is no longer appropriate for the family of a murder victim killed in a premeditated crime to take responsibility for putting the murderer to death [NU 35: 20-21]. Our system of jurisprudence has taken over that responsibility. However, the basic principles of not holding a grudge and of fairness still apply.
Christ’s teaching in LK 6: 27-36 reveal His [and God’s] attitude about how we should love our enemies. “But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you for something, and when someone takes what is yours, do not ask for it back. Do for others just what you want them to do for you. If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinner do that! And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount! No! Love your enemies and do good to them; Lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High God. For He is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” That is surely asking us to do what isn’t comfortable or easy, but what is right. Christ’s teaching on the narrow gate sets the tone He wants for our behavior. MT 7: 13-14, “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.” I want to be one of those few people; do you?
PRAYER: O Lord, You have set an example for us of loving our enemies by the sacrifice of Your Son so we could be saved while we were still your enemies. What You ask us to do is not easy, but it is necessary for our sanctification and eventual glorification. You ask us to examine our lives to see how we are behaving toward those who are our enemies. Too many of our families are split asunder by grudges held and ill will acted upon. Friendships are broken by feelings hurt that are not approached with compassion and common sense. We avoid contact with those who are difficult people in our lives instead of attempting to find solutions to our conflicts that are peaceful and in keeping with the principles You teach us. Too often, we hold material possessions more important than the people in our lives. This is particularly true when a death has occurred and the estate is being settled. We approach You in humility and beseech You to help us learn to walk away from all of this sin and come closer to You. We thank You for not giving up on us and for providing us with a pathway to do that. You deserve our loyalty, praise, adoration, honor, and worship for being the Source of good in our lives that You are. In Christ’s name, amen.
When we obey what God wants us to do, we can have courage, be drawn together in love, and enjoy the assurance that is available to us only through understanding and putting into practice God’s commands. That is what Paul explained to the church at Laodicea in COL 2: 2-3, and it is what I believe God, out of His love for us, wants us to know too. Peter and I also send you our love too.
Be Blessed in Christ Always,
Lynn