Jesus said if we’d do what He told us to do, our house would stand rock solid in the storms of life, that it wouldn’t collapse like the house built on sand.
Some of those commands He gave us are not always easy are they? Our flesh wants to rise up and retaliate when someone is bad mouthing us or doing us wrong. It may be a neighbour, a family member, or work colleague! Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat, If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you. There is a reward for obeying Jesus!🙂
Jesus gives us four specific instructions He wants us to obey -
1. Love your enemies. 2. Bless those who curse you. 3. Do good to those that hate you. 4. Pray for those who spitefully use you. That requires a love beyond our own doesn’t it? It requires the love of God Himself which He has put in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), and His great grace.
He has equipped us with His own Holy Spirit to enable us to do it, but it does mean surrendering to Him especially when everything in us may want to do the opposite! It’s not done by will power but it’s a decision we make to obey, because we love the Lord.🙂
I heard of a persecuted Christian family whose dad was a pastor. He was shot and killed just recently for his faith, but his children who witnessed it, turned to the men who did it, and said they forgave them and would pray for them. Only God’s love and grace in their hearts could enable them to do that.
Philippians 2:13 For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.
Father thank You that when any of us finds ourselves in a position that needs us to forgive someone and do all Jesus told us, that You will fill our hearts with Your love, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us do it, and also help us to be willing to do it. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment