Enemies.

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 

Mat_5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Luk_6:27)

Yesterday we talked a little about serving those we love, today let's talk about serving those who hate us.  I couldn't say- loving those we hate- because let's be honest, we are not to hate others. The worst of the worst, the worst we could ever imagine- belongs to God's judgment, not ours. No, I'm not saying we don't lock up in prison or mental health facilities those worst of the worst, I'm saying we do not judge their eternal life.

In the news very recently was an article about a man hugging a woman in a court room, the man was the brother of the one the woman killed, and he was hugging her because he was forgiving her for killing his brother. There was quite the uproar in the media about the judge allowing the hug, and giving the convicted killed her Bible.

Will the hug or the giving of the Bible stopped the woman from serving time in prison for her crime? No.

Loving our enemies, and out of that love we can be called to serve our enemies. People often asked women and men alike, why they stay in what others believe are abusive (mentally, and possibly physically) relationships. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes it is done knowingly by the abused because they truly are loving their enemy. NO, I'm not saying women or men should stay in abusive relationships, I'm saying sometimes people do stay in them because they feel called to love their enemy in that manner- suffering under the abusers hand. And sometimes, NOT always by a long shot, the abuser will alter their ways because of the long suffering of their partner. And yes, sometimes the abused are killed by their abusers, and vice versa.

Jesus tells us to - Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Love our enemies- yet we are often filled to overflowing with hatred for them.

Bless them that curse us- yet we are often cursing those cursing us.

Do good to them that hate us- yet we are often plotting our own ways to get revenge against those hating us.

Pray for those who despitefully use us- we often do not pray but rather curse and seek retribution against those using us despitefully.

Pray for those who persecute us- yet we often pray for revenge using the hatred we feel towards those who are persecuting us.

Our natural inclination is revenge, retribution, returning hatred for hatred, cursing for cursing. Some times our knee jerk reaction is to give back the abuse we are given.

I see it all the time on the messages in various groups I belong to on Facebook- there the so called 'Trolls' come out and attack what people are saying with snide, awful remarks and in turn those who don't consider themselves trolls become the revenging defenders of the ones being hurt by the trolls- giving that troll just the same if not more abuse than the troll gave out. Hate for hate, not love for hate. However, to be honest, I have seen plenty of people taking that higher road and ignoring and pitying the trolls.

Loving our enemies.

Who is our enemy?  It isn't like we have clear cut lines drawn such as those found in wars where you know the enemy your fighting against by their nationality. The Americans fought the Germans- our enemy- Germans unless you were German and then your enemy was American. Distinct lines and it was easy to simply classify all soldiers from the opposing country are enemies. 

As we live day to day in a time of peace or rather a place where there is no active war going on, do we still have enemies?

Dictionary definition of enemies - somebody who hates or seeks to harm somebody or something.

Yes, we still have enemies. There are people who hate others based on race and it has nothing to do with the individual but the color of their skin. There are people who hate those who are rich, poor, a different gender, have a different sexual orientation. There are people who hate those who are smart, snobbish, shy, nerdy, fat, ugly and the list goes on. There is a lot of hatred in our world, and there are a lot of enemies.

As a Christian your enemy could be any non-Christian, or other Christians with different beliefs.  An enemy could be a member of your own family, or a friend who decides they no longer want friendship.

Jesus wants us to LOVE those who hate us and seek to harm us. And that love is HIS LOVE.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!!!!!!!

Serve

Let me ask you a question. When you love someone are you to serve them? Seriously, are you to serve those you love? Maybe you're saying it depends on what you mean by serving them. What I mean is let's suppose the Savior was walking upon earth again (not going to happen - we were told He would return in the same manner He left - all eyes could see as He ascended.) But, let's just suppose Jesus were to knock on your door, enter your house and sit down on your couch. Would you serve Him? Would you desire to know if He needed anything and if you could help Him in any way? Would you want to see to any needs He had? Feed him, get Him fresh clothes, allow Him to use your shower to wash if needed? Would you offer Him a place to sleep if He wanted to nap? I think if you're a Christ follower you'd want to do anything He asked of You, that you would serve Him. Do you think you'd complain under your breath, muttering even if it's just inside your head, that doesn't Jesus know you're busy right now with something and your needs should be taken into consideration before being asked to serve in any fashion?

I'm going to ask again, when you love someone are you to serve them? Seeing to their needs before your own? Not buying into the take care of yourself first before you take care of others or you won't be able to take care of them. Wait, what? Yes, if we neglect our vital needs of living (whatever they may be for your particular existence), we are going to stop being able to serve others. Anyone who starves themselves to the point of sickness and death, just because they can't stop serving others even long enough to put a crumb in their mouths, well that person has taken things a bit too far. It takes seconds to put crumbs in your mouth, seconds to drink some water. Anyone who has ever taken hours to prepare a huge meal for family and then watches as it is consumed in mere minutes, knows how quickly people can eat.  We need to put others first while taking the opportunities when they arise to tend to ourselves. We value ourselves way too much, and way too often. We don't like stepping out of the comfort zones we've surrounded ourselves with all in the name of self-preservation. 

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 

1Ti 6:2  And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

Servants need to honor their masters-  this is the will of God. Servants need to honor their masters even if they are unbelievers- this is the will of God. Servants should not despise their believing masters because their masters are not choosing to serve them, but serve them because- this is the will of God.

I don't know of any servant/master relationships today. I do know employee/employer though and it's along the same lines as servant/master. I do know that wives and husbands,    children and parents,  younger and elder - all these are relationships and it's the same bottom line for all of them. Serving.

Sometimes the master will serve the servant, but this isn't something we are ever to strive for- being the one served. IF we are the one who needs to be served, we need to be very gracious to those serving us.  We need to serve those serving us with prayer, kindness, gratitude, thankfulness.

Remember this-

Mat_20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant

Mat_23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat_24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Joh 13:3  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 

Joh 13:4  He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 

Joh 13:5  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 

Joh 13:6  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 

Joh 13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 

Joh 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

Joh 13:12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 

Joh 13:13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

Joh 13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

Joh 13:16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 

Joh 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 

We are to serve, ever serve, ever seek to serve.

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings

And we are to serve in love, not begrudgingly. We need to ask for forgiveness, over and over if needed, if we find ourselves murmuring and disputing (even in our thoughts) when we are called to serve another. By the grace of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are to stamped down the rising self-server in us, and instead give praise when we are called to serve. God's will be done, always!

Through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and forever!

Amen.

Not for those only wanting milk like babes in their Bible Studying, but would rather have meat

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Rom 1:9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Rom 1:10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Rom 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Rom 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Rom 1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

Rom 1:14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Rom 1:15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Truth.   Hating the truth, we know the truth will be hated.

If, and this is a big IF, anyone has read this far and has been celebrating the recent decision to glorify homosexuality in all its forms male and female with the supreme court of the United States deciding that it is acceptable, they must be outraged by this truth and hating this truth. They are determined to hate the truth but they won't call it truth, they call truth lies and they call love hate.  They most likely will NOT continue to read this, but it doesn't matter, it must be said.

Eternal death is warranted for ALL who would choose self over love-  God is love.

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR- this is humanity's gravest error. This is the root cause of the evil. We SERVE SELF more than GOD. And we justify this saying- we have the RIGHT to do this, saying -who is God that He deserves our servitude. We LOWER God to a being BELOW us, and HE IS OUR CREATOR!  People just don't comprehend they are CREATED beings.   Even those who recognize their creation by two other human beings often despise those who created them physically.  People are consumed in self serving.

And the haters of truth hate this truth because they love themselves and their ideas of self and self gratification -mental, emotional, physical self gratification before all else. They demand the rights for ALL to be self orientated and therein lie to themselves by believing because they are fighting for all to be self orientated they are in fact benevolent and charitable, unselfish, and this -they call love.

We live in a world of self, and that self has become a monster disguised as love.

It is NOT ABOUT US! 

Yet people have become completely and utterly BLINDED to this.  They can't imagine that it could be about anything other than US. Even in fighting for OTHERS we deem ourselves selfless, but that fight we are fighting for others is for their right to be self-consumed as we are. How often people desire to help others- but not towards the only true hope- that hope they've deemed lunacy, hogwash, pipe dreams, delusions.   And truth, Jesus taught us to help meet the LIFE sustaining needs of each other and in doing so we are teaching His love. But Jesus did NOT teach anyone to help others meet self serving desires to reveal His love.  Satan has convinced the majority of the human race that their personal happiness, pleasure, emotional, mental, physical needs are of the most supreme importance deserving rights governed even by laws.

We will NOT convince anyone at all that they are wrong, their delusion is too cemented.  We can ONLY pray that their hearts become softened by the Holy Spirit. When they fully reject the Holy Spirit there is nothing more for them, nothing.

They have abandoned GOD their CREATOR and erected a GOD of their own devising, a false God who ultimately will lead them all to eternal death- NOT eternal pain and suffering, but eternal non-existence.

They do not want a God who does not want their self serving glorified.

How can we, who live the existence of such a self-serving world, truly serve God?

We must consecrate our entire lives to serving Him, to HIS will being revealed to us in ALL things that we may SERVE Him.

We must seek forgiveness endlessly, comprehending the flesh nature of our existence. We must with our MINDS choose to serve GOD first and foremost in all things.  Does this make us perfect, no! Christ alone has that power to take the filthy rags of our righteousness from us and put upon us HIS white robe of His righteousness! Christ alone is our answer.

Amen!

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