NOVEMBER 26, 2017

“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” 
― G.K. Chesterton

EZEKIEL 36-37

33“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’(36:33-36) 

1 PETER 3

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

11They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^a

JOURNAL 

Watching the Iron Bowl yesterday and scrolling through social media and comments...it's eye-opening how caught up our state and the world get over college kids playing a sport. It is a lot of fun and in essence it brings us together in a relatively peaceful way. The game and rivalry gives people something to put their energy into, something to care about, something to talk about. It gives people a chance to choose sides, compete and come together in support of defeating an "enemy". 

However...the morning after, reading scripture...the sobering reality is that God wants so much more for us. He wants us to be passionate in ways that far exceed any allegiance to a college. He wants us to be consumed with loving our neighbors and transforming our world.  
Reading these verses in Peter...the one that truly pulls the rug out from under me is to "repay evil with blessing". Really? To bless those who do evil? Really? The more I think on this the more troubling it is.

So how would this play out in our world...in my life? I think it starts with prayer and it starts with the heart. This is hard because when I  am honest with myself...I don't wish for blessing on those who have harmed me or "wronged" me. I wish for blessings for me and those I love and I wish harm on those that are a threat or those I deem to be evil or wrong. I think this is normal and this is how most people operate. When I look at scripture I see the same thoughts and desires...especially in the Old Testament. 

But then I look to the New Testament and all that changes...Jesus' sermon on the mount gives a completely different take on how we are to behave and how we are to love. It turns my natural desires and conventional wisdom on its head. It demands that we "love our enemies". Oh how far away from this is my heart...yet I know that although God forgives my sin and anger and secret thoughts...he demands that I turn from them and follow him down a different path.

Turning from this way of thinking requires not only forgiveness of my enemies but also forgiveness of myself. In many ways I have been my own worst enemy. My actions have caused more heartache to me than anything anyone else has done. Therefore since Christ has forgiven me I must first forgive myself...then I MUST forgive others. Wow...your word is perfect...it's hard, but it's good and the more I follow it the greater is my joy because your spirit truly dwells in and works through me. 

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborⁱ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children 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. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MATTHEW 5:43-48