Lift up one another. Love on others, even where they are now in their sins. May they find encouragement through your example and the Lord’s goodness. This is the moment when God can use you for His kingdom and at the same time draw other people around you to Him. 2God uses us to be a light to this generation and when this concept sinks in, you won’t help but want to be led by Him. When the Lord God is in our lives, He will speak to us and lead us to treat people differently. Even when other people mistreat us, He helps us forgive them and only wish the best for their lives. There will be no resentment and all of our walls will be torn down for the glory of God. We forgive freely as God forgives us. This is God’s desire, for every person is important in God’s eyes and until they die, they have a chance to be saved. They may be way off course now and even be considered our enemy but there is still redemption through the blood of Christ. Solomon spoke on this, when he said, 1“rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” We know that God’s wrath is upon the wicked but His mercy is also upon those that repent. So if we are found scoffing at other people that do not know God, God’s wrath will be upon us.
It is better to pray and love on those that are mean to us, then have God’s wrath be upon us also. Jesus said, 3“bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Do not exchange evil for evil but love one another as Jesus loves us. Jesus continued to say, 3“love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” It is so important that consider what Jesus said here. Loving our enemies is part of a Christian life. Being a follower of Christ is not always easy but instead, showcasing love to those that don’t always deserve it. This is not only true for our enemies but ourselves as well. Do we deserve God’s mercy and forgiveness after all the vile things we’ve done in life? Absolutely not, but God still showcased His love for us and our enemies by dying on the cross. As He takes us in and shows us compassion, when we repent, God does the same for our enemies. This is why we pray for them and continue to love them, right where they are. Because we don’t know other people’s circumstances, we just trust that our kindness may spark a change in their lives. Showing this type of love is the way of a Christian. Now, if your life is different, then come to Jesus today and repent.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, help us to show kindness to everyone around us. May Your love shine through us and into other people’s lives. I pray that more people will be uplifted while being in our presence and that they will be at peace. That the Holy Spirit will take over the atmosphere and give them rest. It is You that lifts us up, therefore, we are to also lift up and love our neighbor. To showcase Your peace, while among them is an amazing gift and only You could help us do such things. We know that we ourselves are incapable of living a life of charity but with You in our lives, we are more than conquerors. You lead us to love those that hate us. Even those people that hurt us, You help us forgive them. In this life, where so many hurtful things happen to us every day, You help us show mercy to these people. Your compassion takes over our lives and gives us over to be kind and considerate of everyone’s needs. Yes Lord, You help us put others’ lives first. You give us over to pray for our enemies and help us continue to bless them. This is the happiness You give. We are just so grateful that You can use us for Your kingdom. For You to shine down on us and other people, through us, is a gift that we cherish. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Proverbs 24:17-34 (KJV)
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21 My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
2Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV)
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
3Luke 6:26-38 (KJV)
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
