Thursday, July 18, 2013

Refocus- Part 4


Love your enemies.

Who is my enemy?  Anything or anyone that has enmity for me and considers themselves my enemy even though I might not consider them my enemy.  Fear could be an enemy, as well as, a person who hates whom or what I stand for.

A spirit of fear could be nothing more than our own imagination.  We should control this type of fear by refocusing our thoughts on Jesus.  The best way to refocus our thoughts is to pray, read the bible and witness.  Addiction could be an enemy. Again the best way to deal with this enemy is to refocus our thoughts on Jesus. A person who hates the Jesus I stand for could be my enemy. The best way to love this enemy is to pray, read the bible and witness. 

Jesus told us in person how to deal with human enemies as recorded in Matthew 5:43-48.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In Verse 47 the word brothers refers to siblings in a family. Jesus says we must love those outside our family. So Jesus is saying that in order to be perfect like your heavenly Father is perfect you must love all humans unconditionally.

After all did not the Father love all mankind so much that “He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Father God,

Help us to refocus our thoughts on Jesus so that we may love all humans unconditionally. 

I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus, Amen.

Cdr. Myron Burrows
Royal Rangers Leader
www.nbcornerstone.com

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