LOVE THOSE WHO HATE YOU
Memorise:
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; .. Matthew 5:44
Read:
Matthew 5:38-48
Message
For many Christians, when they are having a dispute with someone, they tend to forget that they are still born again. As they don't seem to like a fellow or the fellow doesn't like them, they treat him or her badly. Jesus Christ said in Luke 6:35 that you must not only love your enemies, you should also be kind to them. When you know the right things to do for people, whether you are on good terms with them or not, do it. The Bible says that it is sinful for you to know something good that you are supposed to do and not do it. James 4:17 says:
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Don't victimise someone with your position because the person is not your friend. Whether you are the one who is right or not does not matter, the moment you decide to victimise them, you become the one who is wrong.
In the Bible reading for today, Jesus Christ said clearly that you are not to repay evil with evil, rather, you are to repay evil with good. The reason for this is that He does not want your heart to harbour any form of corruption or evil at all. Apostle Paul said that when you decide to avenge yourself or repay evil for evil, you are letting evil overcome you. Romans 12:20-21 says:
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Scripture above says that you should love, care for, and even provide for those that hate you. You shouldn't relate with people based on whether they love you or not or on how they treat you; you should relate with them based on how God wants you to. Don't let evil overcome you in a bid to repay someone or show them how powerful you are. If evil overcomes you, it means that you are now on the side of the devil as opposed to the side of God. I will conclude this teaching with the words of Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18:
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Bible In One Year:
Ezekiel 21-22
Hymn:
When We Walk With The Lord
Key Point:
Whether you are on good terms with someone or not, be good to them.
When we walk with the Lord
Trust and obey!
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.