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The
word "enemy" or its plural "enemies" is mentioned hundreds
of times in the Bible and is the focus of large sections of Scripture. Much of the Old Testament deals with the
conflict and battles between Israel and its "enemies". Two things are abundantly clear in
Scripture. First, each of us as
Christians will face enemies and face persecution from those enemies because of
our belief and faith in Christ (2 Timothy 3:12). Second, God in His loving-kindness left many
words of wisdom in Scripture to prepare us for dealing with those enemies who
will persecute us.
In
this modern world strength and success in conflicts is clearly measured by
winning. Defeating one's enemies is
undisputedly a primary pursuit and focus for many societies. Whether it is defeating an enemy in a battle
over possessions or being victorious in forcing beliefs and lifestyles on
others - we are preoccupied with proving our superiority over our enemies. Yet God's desire is not that we be focused on
winning and defeating our enemies at any cost.
He is most interested in how we treat those we are in conflict with.
Want
to know God's thoughts on how you should treat your enemies? Well here they are…
- Love your enemies and pray for them. Matt 5:43-48
- Help your enemies in need. Exodus 23:4-5
- Provide life sustaining care to your enemies. Proverbs 25:21-22
- Forgive your enemies. Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60
- Bless and endure your enemies. 1 Corinthians 4:12
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Not
what you expected? If you think about
it, how powerful is it when you follow God's instruction to pray for your
enemies as well as yourself? Do you
believe He will be more likely to answer your prayers and reward you as He has
promised? How much more difficult is it
for someone to hate you when you have helped rather than hurt them? How much more endearing is showing compassion
to others rather than contempt? How
irresistible is experiencing grace when you are expecting retaliation? How many relationships have been mended
through love rather than hate?
God
doesn't expect us to let others mistreat or abuse us. There is no prohibition against righteous
defense of one's self, one's family or one's people. God is really more focused on our heart's
response to our enemies. He does not
want us to hate our enemies or to fail to bless or pray for them as we are
called to do. If we are obedient to God
and love and pray for our enemies He promises to reward us, if not on this
earth, then most assuredly in Heaven. So
the question is, will we follow God's direction for OVERCOMING OUR ENEMIES or will we seek to solve it as the ungodly
do through hate, intolerance and persecution?
Which approach do you think will be rewarded and be most successful in
the end?
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