Love Your Enemies- Imitate Good

Jesus teaches us a very important lesson in Luke 6:27, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” (Matthew 5:43-48).

We cannot be perfect as long as we live with a nature to sin (which will be for as long as we live on this earth) but we still must “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1).

Whenever anyone (Matthew 10:36) acts as an enemy toward us (for whatever reason), we need to respond in a way that is uncharacteristic of the world. The world’s way is to retaliate. Jesus’ way to respond, however, is to demonstrate love to those who mistreat us-- regardless of what that mistreatment may be. Jesus demonstrated love to those who both verbally and physically assaulted Him- even put Him to death. How can we justify an unforgiving spirit for far less offense than this? In Ephesians 4:30-32 Paul admonishes us with the following words, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

If we are not willing to forgive others their trespasses against us, we certainly cannot expect God to forgive our many trespasses against Him. In fact, it is made clear in Matthew 5:16 that “.. if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus’ response to hate and mistreatment is the ultimate example of forgiving those who sin against us.

In Matthew 27:27-31 we read of the unjust manner Jesus was treated, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.” Yet in Matthew 27:12-14 scripture reads, “But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” He did not try to justify himself as we may do in situations of our own, nor did he lash out as we are tempted to do. Jesus’ perfect example is a forgiving spirit, as evidenced by his prayer to the Father for his persecutors, “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34). We must not behave like those who treat us badly, but rather like Christ- who does good. John 1:11 reads, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”

 

We can “imitate good” by looking to Christ- (who alone is good)-- through obedience to the teaching of His word. May we intentionally look to Him when tempted to “imitate evil”. May we find grace to imitate good- by loving our enemies and doing good to those who mistreat us.

The Repentance of a Little Rebel

Thank you, Lord, for the other day’s wonderful opportunity to show my granddaughter the importance of obeying-- and the consequences of disobedience. Most of all, I thank you for the evident softening of her little heart toward me as I demonstrated your love -- hatred toward the sin, but love toward the little sinner.

She was very disobedient this afternoon. I had just finished telling all the girls they could go outside AFTER I put their little brother down for a nap. Two of them waited obediently (if not patiently;) for permission to leave the house. However, the strong-willed one decided she could not wait. Out she went-- against my instructions. I quickly called her back inside. She threw quite a tantrum, but I was determined to teach her there are consequences to disobedience and disrespect. I did not get angry with her and made sure she knew this. Simply and calmly, I told her she must obey and must learn there are consequences to disobedience.

She was not allowed to go out until I gave her permission… and the permission would not come as long as she was behaving badly. A short time later—once the other two girls had gone outside and our little fellow was down for a nap-- I went into the room with the toys where our little rebel sat quietly. I looked at her and I said, “I love you.” She said nothing, but turned her back on me. Then I spoke to her quietly as I let her long hair slide through my fingers and said to her, ‘If you still want to go outside, you may go now.’ She got up and headed for the door. Then she stopped... turned around... and came back to me with a big smile on her beautiful face and she wrapped her little arms around me in a big hug. I didn’t expect this, so it truly filled my heart with joy.

Thank you Lord for doing such a work in my heart.. helping me to show not only hatred for the sin that you hate- but also love for the little sinner you love. Not only this, but the reward that comes from obedience and the evidence of grace wrought in a little rebel’s heart. Earlier that day, I had explained to the girls the meaning of repentance. They tried to understand… but I don’t think they quite got it. I believe it will become clearer to them as they grow and continue to experience consequences of wrong behavior -- and realize the necessity of doing what is right. I pray they come to a good understanding of this at an early age so they will not have to suffer the terrible consequences that can come from major transgressions to God’s law.

I will add here that my ‘little rebel’ behaved more like a ‘little lady’ for the rest of that day :)

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Give- For His Glory

I’ve been thinking on the meaning of this verse in Luke 6:38, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” This verse does not promise that we will receive material things or happiness in proportion to what we give out to others in this lifetime. Nowhere in the scriptures are we promised health, wealth or prosperity. Hebrews 11:37-38 gives clear evidence of this. Listing those who were of faith, it is said of some, “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth,” and in Romans 8:16-17 we are taught that, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Note the provision there.) Though we may not be called to suffer as severely as others have, we are not showing ourselves to be true children of God, and heirs with Christ, if we do not suffer in some way for the cause of Christ.

Jesus is not so concerned with us possessing material things as He is in our living in obedience to His teaching. Jesus’ words in Luke 12:15 are, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul”? (Matthew 16:26).

If we truly follow Christ, we can expect to receive many good things, but not necessarily in this lifetime. We can be assured of spiritual blessings in this life- but not material blessings.. This doesn’t mean we won’t have many material things- for most of us likely do- but we should never take for granted our earthly possessions, for we could lose them as easily as we gain them. As Christians, our main concern should be living in obedience to scripture’s teaching. We are told in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

James 1:11-12 shows us the futility of storing up treasure on this earth, “For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. (However) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

May we be seeking a heavenly treasure-- the crown of life for those who love God and desire to spend an eternity as fellow heirs with Christ, our Savior. May we give without expecting anything in return (in an earthly sense), knowing that the glory awaiting us will far outweigh the suffering of this present age, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” ( Romans 8:18).

May God give us the desire to do good to all- not to be rewarded in this lifetime- but to show our love for Him and our faith in a much better life to come- for all of eternity.

Train up your Children- Endeavor to Bring them to Christ

J.C. Ryle made the following quote, "We must never allow ourselves to suppose that little children’s souls may be safely let alone. Their character depends exceedingly on what they see and hear during their first seven years. They are never too young to learn evil and sin. They are never too young to receive religious impressions. They think in their childish way about God, their souls, and a world to come, far sooner and far more deeply than most people are aware. They are far more ready to respond to appeals to their feeling of right and wrong than many suppose. They have each a conscience. God has mercifully not left Himself without a witness in their hearts, fallen and corrupt as their natures are. They each have a soul which will live forever in heaven or in hell. We cannot begin too soon to endeavor to bring them to Christ."

Notice J.C. Ryle’s last statement, ‘We cannot begin too soon to endeavor to bring them to Christ’. He understood that we are not capable of bringing our children to Christ; however, it is our responsibility to ‘endeavor’ to do so. We need to understand that everything our children are exposed to from infanthood onward will influence all of their choices and decisions in life- for good or for evil. The good influences will help shape their choices and decisions in that direction-- the evil influences will have a destructive effect on the choices and decisions they make. This is true for all of us. As Christians, it is imperative that we fill the minds of our children with God’s word and strive, by God’s grace, to influence them for good.

Children are very malleable. Just as saplings, if not trained to grow a certain way, they will bend and grow misshapen. Even though we know that by God’s grace alone our children are brought to a saving faith, we must also know that we are very responsible to teach them in the ways of the Lord, training them in the way they should go. Proverbs 22:5-6 reads, “Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” We cannot, of course, fulfill this responsibility in our own strength and resources-- any more than we can fulfill the command of scripture (in Matthew 5:48) to be perfect. Such commands, given by the Lord, are fulfilled only as HE works through us. And God does intend to use family life as a means of raising up godly offspring,“Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth” (Malachi 2: 15).

Raising up Godly offspring is one of the purposes of a Christian marriage. It is not only a duty and a tremendous responsibility, but also a privilege to follow God’s commands to train up our children in His ways. We are totally responsible for imparting to our children a knowledge of God’s word and must strive to teach them a fear of the Lord so they may (by the grace of God) learn to depart from evil and choose what is right and pleasing in God’s sight. In reality, we need to be doing this for as long as our children are with us (far past the age of 7). However, studies indicate that the first 7 years are very formative years and that even John Newton, who we know grew up to be a very ungodly man (until his conversion) remembered the training of his mother from those formative years. “Newton was nurtured by a Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age, but he was raised in his father's image after she died of tuberculosis when Newton was 7.”

We do not know what means God will use to bring others to salvation, but we must take seriously our responsibility for our children and grandchildren teaching them as best we can, at every opportunity given, while at the same time understanding that God’s grace alone can bring them to salvation. May He have mercy on us and our children..

“know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (Deuteronomy 4:39-40).

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Appropriate Response to Inappropriate Behavior

Recently I have been reading “Competent to Counsel”, by Jay Adams -- a book said to have “helped thousands of pastors, students, laypersons, and Christian counselors develop both a general approach to Christian counseling and a specific response to particular problems”. In this book I came upon "Mary", a young lady diagnosed as manic-depressive and confined to a mental institution. Mary was said to have developed a technique which effectively camouflaged her and kept hidden the problem truly plaguing her. This technique was to drown out everyone around her, so they would leave her alone. Just as a child may scream in order to get their own way, so Mary screamed to get what SHE wanted, which was for everyone to leave her alone and not question her actions.

When counselors got close to putting a finger on the real problem in Mary’s life (which turned out to be adultery), she began to cry and scream at the top of her lungs. She sobbed uncontrollably and begged to be left alone. In the past, it was said, this tactic had been very effective. Mary's screaming and crying had always warded off attempts by family and others seeking to discern the true reason for her distress. However, counselors in the institution were not going to fall for it. Instead, they looked her right in the eye and admonished her to be quiet, making clear that they could be of no help to her whatsoever if she didn’t stop with her nonsense and tell them what her problem was. Basically, they said to her, “Surely a young girl like you doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life in this institution. We know you have real problems, and we know that there is something wrong in your life. Now let’s talk..” Brushing aside the camouflage and pursuing a straight course to the heart of the matter, the counselors stood firm in their resolve to talk and work things out. When Mary realized her antics were of no effect, she turned them off and gave in -- telling them her whole miserable story. Because the counselors dealt appropriately with her self-protective tactics, she was able to honestly face her problems and find help in confession and change. Before the counselors could help Mary, they had to deal with her inappropriate behavior.

As I ponder over this story, I wonder how many others (both young and old)... in mental institutions or not... could be helped if their situations were addressed in an appropriate manner. If, instead of trying to ignore their problems, they would face those problems head on. Problems which inevitably come down to a problem of the heart, by the way. A problem called "sin".

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it” (Jeremiah 17:9)?

In Psalm 139:23, the Psalmist wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And in Psalm 94:10-12 we read, “He who teaches man knowledge—the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law,”

If we were focused on God and His glory (which should be of utmost importance to those who profess to know Christ), we would not give in to the various tactics others use in order to get their way. We would be more focused on helping them, by steering them to God’s word and praying the Holy Spirit would do a work in their hearts in order to instill in them a desire to exhibit correct behavior according to scripture’s teaching.

In Jay Adam's book, "Competent to Counsel", it is made clear, “Counseling is the work of the Holy Spirit. Effective counseling cannot be done apart from him.” The statement is made that, “Counseling, to be Christian, must be carried on in harmony with the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Spirit.” We must understand that we can do no good apart from the power of Christ at work within us. It is the Spirit who convicts men of sin and the Spirit alone who can bring about a true godly repentance and healing. 2 Corinthians 3:18 reads;

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

May we truly seek God’s wisdom (through his word) in knowing how to deal with inappropriate behavior in an appropriate manner in order to help those around us who are evidently in need of the help and healing that only He can bring.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

'Christian' - In Name Only

It seems as if most people who attend any kind of church today would refer to themselves as ‘Christians’-- regardless of whether they have a relationship with Christ. It is interesting to note that the term ‘Christian’ first came about not through people calling themselves Christians, but through other people calling them Christians-- because of the example they set as Christ’s followers. In Acts 11:21-26 we read, “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.”

We must not make the assumption that one is a Christian merely because they go through the motions of attending a church, reading their bibles and even praying. Christians are those who are made new in Christ, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation,” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Having been reconciled to God, a Christian will want to see others reconciled to God, as well. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). 

 

Having been made new in Christ, one understands... and desires to live according to...the admonishment given in Ephesians 4:17-32- to put off the old self and put on the new. Ephesians 4:30-32 reads, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 14-15).

 

Would the example we set in following Christ prompt others to call us “Christian”? Let us look closely at ourselves and take seriously the admonishment in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test” (2 Corinthians 13:5)!

Are we truly genuine in our Christianity, or might we be ‘Christian’ - in name only?

Don't Worry- God is in Control!

As Christians, not only should we refrain from dwelling on negative things from the past, but we should also refrain from dwelling on distressing situations at present. If we find ourselves fretting (or in despair) about something over which we have no control, we need to repent. Numerous scripture verses tell us not to be anxious. Luke 12:25-26 asks the following question,“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”

We should also resist firmly the temptation to worry over what might happen in the future, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”(Matthew 6:34). Rather than worrying over the present or future circumstances of our lives, we should be following God’s revealed will for us on a daily basis, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” God’s revealed will for us, as Christians, is to be joyful, prayerful and thankful- in all things.

We can be truly thankful that God is in control over all things, even when things do not go according to our plans, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21). Isaiah 55:8-9 reads, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We can be assured that if things don’t go according to our plan, then God has a much better one in mind.

If God is completely sovereign (which He is) and if all of his purposes will stand (which they will), then if His children rebel against Him (which we all do at times), He will bring them to obedience-- in His providence and through His discipline. However, just as the prophet Jonah, we will suffer the consequences of our rebellion. Only in obedience can we expect the spiritual blessings of God. Isaiah 46:8-11 reads, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it” (Isaiah 46:8-11).

In His faithfulness, God will do all He has determined to do, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them” (Deuteronomy 7:9-10). If we have been recipients of God’s love, we also must be faithful-- to seek God with all our heart, “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24).

Our Lord has preserved for us his precious word whereby we may know Him. Through it we may experience peace and assurance which passes all understanding- regardless of our circumstances. In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We need to be obedient to scripture and prepared to accept the Lord’s answer to our request, even if it isn’t what we had hoped for. When Paul prayed for his affliction to be removed, the Lord’s response was,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Trusting in our sovereign Lord...who works through all things for our good… may we truly strive to not fret and worry over things which are beyond our control. May the following verse be true of us, “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:6-7).