Beloved Enemy
Description
Today’s Reading: Matthew 5
Key Verse: Matthew 5:44 NKJV
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
“Love” and “Enemy” don’t fit together. Sue and be sued! Get even! Jesus makes a demand which is humanly impossible. In verse 39, Jesus tells us that “Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” Recently, at a meeting of our Crossroads U.S.A. Board, Rev. Albert Vaters, commented on John 15:5, “Without Me you can do nothing.” He said that no matter how hard we try on our own, it is worth zero. But, He assured us that “With God nothing will be impossible.”
Jesus, the true revolutionary, is “Love.” This is His D.N.A.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I invite you to live in me. Only you have lived 100 per cent the words you taught us. I give myself to you. Because of you, living in me, “Nothing shall be impossible.”
Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS FROM DAVID MAINSE:
It has never been hard for me to pray the prayer that Jesus said would make me right with God, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13). The word “sin” originates as an archery term. It means, missing the target. My aim, my focus, my prayer, is to be like Jesus. Most of the time I miss the bulls eye, but there are times when I am conscious that Jesus in me is helping me to hit the mark.
One day I met with Gord at the W.M.C.A. His face was buried in a paper bag. He was sniffing glue. He lifted his head just long enough to spit in my face. Amazingly I felt nothing but love for Gord. I’m 100% sure that reaction was not me. Jesus was living and loving from within.