“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty". Matthew 5:43-45 (MSG)
Some years ago, a man walking in a desert stumbled upon a snake that had become hopelessly wedged between some fallen trees. The man decided to help the snake, but in the process the snake tried to bite him. The man tried to free the snake a second time. Again, the snake tried to bite the man. Finally, on the third attempt the man succeeded in freeing the snake. And still, the snake coiled and attempted to strike its liberator. The man’s companion, who had observed from a safe distance, asked the man why he continued to risk himself to free the snake. The man responded, “The snake was attempting to strike because that is its nature. My nature is to love. Should I cease to love because the snake attempts to strike?”
In Matthew 5:43-45, our Lord and Saviour told us categorically that we must love people who are unlovable. That is people who want to bring the worst out of us. People who deliberately harm us without any justifiable reason. They attack and vomit their venom upon anyone that cross their path. Do we still have such people around us today? The answer of course is "yes". But God wants to demonstrate His nature of love to them through us. We are to respond to them with energy of prayers and not hatred, bitterness or revenge. We must not allow their unlovable nature to suppress the loving nature of God in us.
Beloved, have you been bitten recently by people with the nature of a snake? Is someone making life extremely difficult for you at work or in your neighbourhood, business or ministry? Hope you are not planning to retaliate or seek revenge? Why not respond like the man in the above story? Why not do what our Saviour did when he was being crucified on the Cross of Calvary ( Luke 23:33-34). Yes, you can respond to them with the energy of forgiveness, prayers and love. You can do it too. It's not stupidity or foolishness, it is simply God way of manifesting His nature to the world. And who knows whether through your prayers, good dispositions and show of love, that fellow may eventually come to embrace the Light of this world (Jesus Christ) and be saved.
"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." -Luke 23:33-34
The lyrics of a wonderful old time song title "Love Your Enemies" which was composed by Mrs Kate Carpenter (1730 - 1784) speak volume. Could you please join me to meditate on the lyrics of this song as we trust God to help us demonstrate His nature to everyone and especially those who have the nature of snake around us today.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
Big bad Saul had a lot of hate.
Tried to send a spear though a man named Dave.
Dave in a cave had to make a choice.
He chose to listen to the heavenly voice.
Chorus:
If you love those who love you, God is not impressed.
If you love those who BUG you, that?s when you?ll be blessed.
Look him in the eye and love the meanest guy.
Jesus will be pleased.
Pray for those who persecute you.
La la la la la la la la love ----- your enemies.
Bloody man dying on the Jericho Road
Priest and the Levite just turned up their nose
Good Sam, what a man, stopped to help that guy
Bound up his wounds so he wouldn?t die.
Now we'll sing a song about deacon Steve,
Willing to die for what he believed in
Got stoned, broken bones, but before he died
Prayed for the guys who tore up his hide.
No one could do it like Jesus could.
Whipped and slapped and nailed to the wood.
Sin couldn?t win ?cuz the Lord, He forgave
And we got the power (we got the power)
We got the power (we got the power)
We got the power when He popped through the grave!
On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God,- Pastor E. A Adeboye, I will like to invite you to the June 2018 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday, June 1st, 2018. Theme: Stronger Than Your Enemies -6 , with the subtitle: Victory Through Praise . Time: 7pm. Venue: Redemption Camp, Nigeria. Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.
Good morning and God bless you.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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