Tag Archives: enemies of God

Every Single One

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Genesis 36

This chapter lists the descendants of Esau, the Edomites who were life-long enemies of Israel. I’m sitting here wondering why God included this genealogy in His Word. What can we learn of Jesus here, or of God’s plan of redemption? Since the Bible doesn’t explain the reason, I am left to form an opinion. So here it is:

I am reminded of the name of God spoken by Hagar – El Roi – the God who sees me. We often divide the world into two camps – believers and non- believers, or friends and enemies.

We talk about the “them,” and as a result the “they” lose their individuality, maybe their humanity in our minds.

What I see here in Genesis 36 is the God who sees every individual, that He died for every person, that He knows them by name.

God, forgive me when I lump all non-believers into a group I am separate from, a group I can keep at arm’s length because “they” are not like me. May I see them as moms and dads, sons, daughters, boys, girls for whom Jesus died…

Every single one of them.

December 19 – Enemies

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Titus

One thing that I’ve come to realize during this year in God’s Word is that non-believers are enemies of God. That is a hard pill to swallow because I have loved ones who fit that description. I know some really nice, good people who fit that description as well, for the fact that they refuse to accept God’s grace. I don’t want anyone I love to be considered His enemy when God looks at them.

But here’s how God treats His enemies while they still draw a breath: He died for them. He holds their forgiveness in His hands. He woos them, or strikes them, or blesses them, all the while giving them every opportunity to accept Him. It isn’t until they leave this life that He gives up on them.

Here’s what spoke to me today: Sometimes I think we Christians are too hard on God’s enemies. Some Christians feel pious hatred toward homosexuals, or child molesters, atheists, women who’ve had abortions, Muslims. We have a measure of godly indignation and condemn them to hell because that’s what they deserve.

But Paul tells Timothy to “malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” (3:2) But surely he didn’t mean those awful sinners, did he?

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (3:3-7)

Have you ever heard, “There but for the grace of God go I”? That’s what Paul wants us to adopt as our attitude toward those who don’t know God. It’s only God’s grace that renders you forgiven, clean, a friend of God. And it’s only God’s grace that will do the same for the vilest offend who truly believes, or for that nice little old lady down the street who has not yet surrendered her life to the Lord.

Christian, let’s determine to reveal God’s love to His enemies. But let’s not forget that their sin is making them an enemy of God.He is not willing that any should die without Him. We shouldn’t be, either.