Prayer-Soldier
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 Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:17 am Post subject: Love Your Enemy |
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The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:1-2)“You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow man, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” ( Leviticus 19:17-18 )
In the Old Testament, as in the New, God has called to us to be in His image and to love. He does not call us to follow the letter of the law, but to understand the true meaning of that which He commands us. He calls us to community with one another so that we also become one within His creation. As we love one another, we also demonstrate our love for His creation and therefore, we demonstrate our love for Him.
Those who seek divisions for agendas of man do not serve the commandments of God. Those who hold grudges, those who seek revenge, those who seek violence for purposes of greed, power and conquest do not serve the Lord. He calls us to forgive and to love, for that is the way of our God.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own ruses,” and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God. (1 Corinthians 3:16-23)
In His image He created us, but there are those who try to remake God in their image, to fit their agendas, to serve their purpose. Still others deny God, attempting to assume His role by making their own decisions as to what should be law or who should live and who should die. They seek their own designs and through what they believe they understand about the world and the universe about them, they rationalize their belief that they will not be held accountable for their denial of God.
He gives us the choice as to what we believe and what we do, though He has tried to reach out through His angels, His prophets, through the scripture He inspired; but most importantly through His only begotten Son. Through the Church He built upon Peter and the succession of the apostles of Christ, He continues to reach out to us. We can reach out to Him through prayer and invite Him into our heart. Through prayer, we can seek His wisdom so that we understand the true meaning of His commandments, and the blessings of His Word. Blessed are those who seek the wisdom of God for He will reveal to them that which they need.
Jesus said to those who followed Him, You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. 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, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. ( Matthew 5:38-48 )
The evil of the world is fueled by the conflicts of man, but forgiveness and love is the way of the true Christian. The way is not always easy, for to love your enemy while your enemy seeks evil for you requires great strength and courage. Still, as we set the example for others and they are drawn to the commandments of love, we reduce the evil which exists in the world. With each person that understands and truly lives by the message of God, there is one less that follows the ways of the evil one.
In our hope to gain peace within our day, we cannot impose it, rather, it comes as we become the light which draws others out of the darkness. We cannot force our beliefs, but by living them, others will see, others will know that we are on the path to peace and they will desire to follow. Blessed are they who follow in the name and the ways of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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