by David Brenneman
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either." Luke 6:27-29.
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36.
"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." 1 Timothy 2:1-6.
Our online world has been putting kerosene, gasoline and every other kind of combustible material on people's ability to rage against people.
Even professing Believers are sucked into the fray and malign the reputation of Jesus Christ by doing so.
Jesus spoke these words and through the Spirit, Paul wrote what he did...as both warning and instruction.
Never will you find any instance in the life of Jesus Christ where He ever uttered the words "I hate you" or any such thing towards anyone.
Never would you find Him stirring the pot, so to speak, concerning those whom His Father placed in authority over Him during His time here on Earth. Nor do we ever find it in the Scriptures as a teaching to behave in such an ill mannered way.
We just read what we're to do and be like. To behave in any other such way is to grieve the Holy Spirit since we're soiling the reputation of Jesus Christ by words and deeds.
This is one particular reason why I do not participate in political discussions. Because people become inflamed over this person or that person.
To behave in such a way is to throw out the Word of God! You and I just read what we're to be doing: Praying for those who are in authority over us.
Take it down a different path and this covers road rage, and bitterness towards another human being of any kind. Regardless of what circumstances, Christ died for those whom cross our paths just as He did for us. To place ourselves above others is exactly what He meant by not judging others. We are all sinners before a Holy God. Those who are saved are only righteous by the imputed righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We tarnish that righteousness when we join the world in our treatment of others.
In this our 250th anniversary as a nation we need indeed to remember that this nation was founded on prayer. Prayer forged the Declaration of Independence. Prayer framed the Constitution.
This deviciveness, this dividing and not building up of others, this raging towards those whom Christ died for...is the work of Satan. Satan's schemes involve separation of people by whatever means he is allowed. To spread lies. To deceive. To keep people from the knowledge of the truth of God in Christ Jesus. He is the destroyer of families and relationships.
We are aiding and abetting the enemy of God by participating in such behavior!
You cannot profess to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit or your neighbor as yourself if you are raging or are choosing to be embittered against, looking down upon, people.
Consider your ways is what the Scriptures say, which by direct reasoning, means the Spirit is telling us to consider our ways.
The Spirit is trying to work the works of God in Christ Jesus in us and can only do so through our obedience to God's Word.
We are all tempted to rage, to get upset, to deal with others in anger. We laugh at what 'content' people are creating to laugh at people raging against people.
Consider your ways...would Jesus appreciate or approve?
We're called to be different.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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