October 7, 2018 KINGDOM LIVING part 3
Matthew 5:43-45 “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 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax gathers do the same?”
If there ever was a contrast in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, it’s found in these verses. It is the basic nature of man to love those who love him, and hate or despise his enemy. Yet, Jesus tells us to love our enemy, and to pray for those who persecute us! Really? Because it is contrary to the nature of man to do such, something else is required if we are to love our enemies as Jesus commands. We may not view ourselves as having ‘enemies,’ but we likely have those individuals that we just simply do not like and we avoid them; even though they may not be our enemies, this command to love and pray for them still applies. It is also very possible that there are some individuals who oppose us and possibly persecute us for whatever the reason. The idea of loving these individuals sounds preposterous, even impossible. Yet, in the kingdom of God, these seemingly difficult commands become the way of life. In order for one to love his enemy, a transformation and a basic change of nature must take place. Only because God has made us ‘new creations’ and has given us a new nature, even a nature like His, can we love our enemies. Jesus was the supreme example of loving His enemies, even those who instigated His death on the cross. It is critical that we understand that He has not just made us better, but has made us new, and has given us a new disposition, enabling us to express with our life the kingdom of God. In fact, He makes the amazing statement that if we are to be called His sons, then we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Again, to do so is utterly impossible apart from us being made new and given new natures. The truth is, because God has poured out His love into our hearts, loving others, including our enemies, becomes natural for us. When we love our enemy, and the ‘unlovely,’ and those who oppose us, we are blessed and are fulfilled because we are expressing our new nature as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Just as God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, so can we find ways to bless those who oppose us and would do us harm. Finally, when we love those who do not love us, we will be rewarded. Let us live, not according to the worlds standards, but according to ways of the kingdom of God-He has equipped us to do just that.
Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Matthew 5:43-45 “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 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax gathers do the same?”
If there ever was a contrast in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world, it’s found in these verses. It is the basic nature of man to love those who love him, and hate or despise his enemy. Yet, Jesus tells us to love our enemy, and to pray for those who persecute us! Really? Because it is contrary to the nature of man to do such, something else is required if we are to love our enemies as Jesus commands. We may not view ourselves as having ‘enemies,’ but we likely have those individuals that we just simply do not like and we avoid them; even though they may not be our enemies, this command to love and pray for them still applies. It is also very possible that there are some individuals who oppose us and possibly persecute us for whatever the reason. The idea of loving these individuals sounds preposterous, even impossible. Yet, in the kingdom of God, these seemingly difficult commands become the way of life. In order for one to love his enemy, a transformation and a basic change of nature must take place. Only because God has made us ‘new creations’ and has given us a new nature, even a nature like His, can we love our enemies. Jesus was the supreme example of loving His enemies, even those who instigated His death on the cross. It is critical that we understand that He has not just made us better, but has made us new, and has given us a new disposition, enabling us to express with our life the kingdom of God. In fact, He makes the amazing statement that if we are to be called His sons, then we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Again, to do so is utterly impossible apart from us being made new and given new natures. The truth is, because God has poured out His love into our hearts, loving others, including our enemies, becomes natural for us. When we love our enemy, and the ‘unlovely,’ and those who oppose us, we are blessed and are fulfilled because we are expressing our new nature as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Just as God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, so can we find ways to bless those who oppose us and would do us harm. Finally, when we love those who do not love us, we will be rewarded. Let us live, not according to the worlds standards, but according to ways of the kingdom of God-He has equipped us to do just that.
Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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