Love Your Enemies
By Bonnie Ricks
1 Samuel 18:11-12 NIV
The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
Saul, the world's greatest egomaniac, was after David, determined to kill him. Saul's jealousy of David caused him to do everything he could to make David look bad, to ruin his life, to murder him. If David had been a normal person, he would have done everything he could to discredit Saul, to return insult for insult, to destroy this man who was blinded by jealousy. Twice David had full opportunity to kill Saul. Twice he stood inches from Saul - once cutting off a piece of his cloak and once taking his spear while Saul slept - and with one blow, David could have ended his problems with Saul forever. But David wasn't a normal man - or more correctly, a natural man. David was a man of God - a man after God's own heart. And while everyone around him lived by the rule of an eye for an eye, David did what Jesus would teach hundreds of years later. rather than hating Saul, his greatest enemy, David loved him.
You and I are faced with this identical dilemma every day. People around us, even Christians, do everything they can to destroy us. In far too many instances, jealousy is the motive. No matter what the motive, the situation occurs again and again. Our natural reaction is to return insult for insult. to avenge ourselves of the wrongs done to us. even if all we do is talk badly about the person, trying to discredit him or her with those around us. What we should do is follow David's example and befriend those who hurt us. be kind to those who are unkind to us. pray for those who hate us. This includes Christians and non-Christians alike.
Take an unnatural action today and pray for someone who has hurt you. Go out of your way to be kind to that person. Follow David's - and Jesus' - example. Befriend an enemy today.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NIV
Used with Permission
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