LOVE / HATE
LOVE/HATE, “WORTH CONSIDERING” 4/3/20 Ken Smith, www.Trinity-Aloha.org
Today’s Scripture (In my emails this morning.)
“…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27–28, NIV)
Why Bless Those Who Hurt You?
It’s easy to be good to people who are good to us. But what about when someone does something deliberately to hurt you? It’s easy to get bitter, hold a grudge, talk bad about them, and think about how you can get even with them.
Why would Jesus say that we should bless and do good to those who hurt us when they don’t deserve it? Because you’re not blessing them for their sake, but for your sake. The mercy and kindness you show others is the mercy God’s going to show you. If you’re bitter and angry, you’ll get stuck. Life is too short to go through it with bitterness poisoning your life. If you’ll let go of the hurt they inflicted and live out of a place of forgiveness, out of a place of wholeness, you’ll not only feel better, but that’s what allows the Creator of the universe to go to work and take you higher.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for all the mercy and forgiveness and protection You have shown me when I’ve done wrong. Help me to do good and bless those who have done me wrong. I am leaving them in Your hands and believing that You are taking me to new levels. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Ken’s Thoughts,
This is a tough idea to go with. In our Adamic nature, our thoughts, are eye for eye and tooth for tooth. And of course the end of that concept is that no one can see or eat. Action and reaction. One time I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Pat Morita who played Miyagi in The Karate Kid and especially I remember his humility. One of the favorite lines I remember was “No be there” concerning dealing with aggression. Basically that is what happens to us as a Christian when we are more concerned about the souls of others and bringing them to Christ than we are about our selves. By faith, real faith, we begin the transition of really living in HIS KINGDOM of righteousness while we are still living in this temporary body.
Jesus was being nailed to the Cross and was more concerned about the souls of those driving the spikes into HIS feet that HE was about the pain that I am sure was intense. He was hanging and dying on the cross and HE was more concerned that John take the responsibility for HIS mother. And in HIS suffering he even was gracious in providing the way of salvation to a thief beside HIM. Obviously HE, by faith, was already in a totally different world. HIS seven last words were profound. And from HIS birth through HIS life and death HE became our example. He came to give us the example of how to live in the Spirit under all circumstances and conditions. For the scriptures tell us that though being the Son of Man he was able, through the Spirit, to have a complete victory over sin. And HE also gives us an example that we too, in following HIS example, can learn how to have absolute victory over sin as HE did. That HE has set us free in HIM and given us the Holy Spirit to give us the same power that HE did if we will make room for HIM. That means a total house cleaning from the darkness and to invite the Holy Spirit to fill every cell of our body as well as the thoughts of our mind and heart.
John, the apostle closest to Christ Jesus had this to say about it:
“And this is the message [the message of [g] promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [[h] no, not in any way]. 6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. 7 But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. 1John1:6-9…. And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless). 4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will). 5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [[d]essentially and forever]. 6 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains [e]in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and [f]habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him]. 7 [g] Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. 9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [h]habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. 10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [I] believer in Christ). 1 John 3:3- AMP
There is but one Church of Christ Jesus on Earth and in Eternity.
And all who truly Love and Obey HIM are members.
More GREAT QUOTES -Sermonindex.net
“At the day of judgment we shall all meet again.” -George Whitfield
“Dare, dare, my dear brethren in Christ, to follow the Captain of your salvation, who was made perfect through sufferings.” -George Whitefield
“All I can say is I look for perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life, and I hope for no other peace, only a cross, while on this side of eternity.” -George Whitefield
“God give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye, and then let men or devils do their worst.” -George Whitefield
“If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what He pours through us that really counts. God´s purpose is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that
He may squeeze the sweetness out of us.” – Oswald Chambers
“Nothing is more contrary to a heavenly hope than an earthly heart.” -William Gurnall
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven.” C.S. Lewis
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!