Tag Archives: enemy

December 10

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Acts 23:12-25:22

Paul’s enemies wanted him dead. They lied and schemed and even vowed not to eat anything until they killed him. And the only reason they hated Paul was because they believed something different than he did about Scripture.

Have we changed so much since then? I know wars have been fought in the name of God. Planes have been flown into buildings in the name of God. Even denominational differences within Christianity can produce heated arguments. To what degree are we to fight against people who disagree with us?

I believe sometimes we have to go to war with nations who threaten our safety. But I wish we didn’t have to. I hate abortion, the murder of innocent children. But I also hate it when I hear an abortion clinic has been bombed or an abortion doctor has been shot to death in the name of God. I know that homosexuality is a sin and, in the Old Testament, punishable by death. But I was saddened to read this morning that a church known for helping the needy reportedly believe gay people should die. Whether or not they truly believe that, I don’t know. But I find it interesting the media put it out there now when charitable given is typically high.

Friend, let’s remember that our enemy is not flesh and blood. God sent Jesus to die for all of us. He wants the atheist, the abortion doctor, the drug dealer, the homosexual, the liar and the glutton to accept his Son as Savior. Satan is the enemy. But we are commanded to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone! 

Father, I pray for your people today. May we stand up for the truth of Scripture, may our lives reflect Jesus’ love, and may we love even those who disagree with us. I know that’s not to say we should ignore or tolerate sin. But help us to show a lost world that what we have with you is so much better than what they have without you in their lives. May they be drawn to you because of us. Then, we’ll let you handle the sin in their lives!

April 21

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I Samuel 25: 1-44, Psalm 18

I know that when we read accounts like this of David and Nabal we see God destroying men because they were evil. We read Psalms like 18 and hear David praising God for destroying men who were his enemies. And we may be tempted to think that’s how God operates yet today.

I knew a woman who always said… what goes around comes around. She believed with all her heart that anyone who mistreated her would get a pay-back sometime in his or her life. (never heard her say what would happen to her when she gossiped or bullied someone else. But I digress)

Some people believe in karma. I don’t.

I know I often say that God today is the same God of the Old Testament. He absolutely is. He is holy and demands holiness of us. His rules for living have not changed.

But I have also said repeatedly how glad I am that, after the cross, we are not called to kill people like the Old Testament people were. Our enemy is not flesh and blood in God’s spiritual kingdom which he ushered in when Jesus rose from the dead. That’s why a pastor once told me to read the Psalms picturing the enemy written about as Satan. Makes those Psalms relevant in my life.

Here is what God says about people who we might consider enemies. Love them. Pray for those who spitefully use you.

Look at Jesus’ example of how to treat people who wrong you.

If something bad happens to someone who has treated you unfairly, don’t rejoice. Pray for them. What happens to them is not about you. It’s about God trying to win them to himself. God, who is not willing that any should perish, loves that person whether we do or not. He died for him or her the same way he died for us.

Someone said the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him your friend. I’d go one step further. Introduce him to your Savior!

I don’t know who has mistreated you. If you are in an abusive situation I certainly don’t recommend you stay there. If there are bosses you need to tell or parents who need to know or police who need to deal with it I pray you will have the courage to stand up for yourself and tell someone.

But my prayer is that we all will be faithful to God’s Word and pray for those who mistreat us. That’s what God says to do so it must work.