This has been such a fun study to do with you guys, I love all your input! I’m so glad to know that I’m not the only one who struggles in this area! 🙂Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. NLT
Isn’t it interesting that God does not seem as concerned with what our emotions are, or how bad we’ve been treated. No exceptions- love ALL enemies- even the really bad ones! But we have to think of Him as a Father who has our best interest at heart… just like with our children, we want what is best- not what is momentarily pleasing (ie. revengeful thoughts and fits of anger).
Ok, so you might be thinking, what about the time that Jesus got angry?
John 2:13-16 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” NIV
It seems that Jesus in contradicting himself, but that is only because we don’t understand righteous anger. The Bible teaches us to be angry and sin not. Jesus was motivated by righteousness to protect His Father’s house and people.
He loved these people, but was upset by their sin.
Walking in love does include standing boldly at times, but not at the expense of love. Love always needs to be our motivation in confrontation.
If we are motivated by self-preservation, our motives are wrong.
True self worth is found in knowing who we are according to the Bible AND believing it for ourselves.
Psalm 37:5-6 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. NIV
Are you willing to wait for the Lord to bring about the truth and justice of your circumstances, even if it does not happen in this lifetime?
God has taught me four very important words:
My motivation in all things should be for the glory and honor of God, never for my glory OR my self-preservation. My pride doesn’t want to hear that, but it is so freeing to finally lay down our own selves and sense of self- protection.
Our pride will entice us to focus on ourselves instead of on the Lord. Making the choice to be humble is a hard one sometimes, but you can never go wrong choosing humility.
Humility brings freedom!
Pride can also come across as self-pity. Self-pity is self-destructive.
The only way we can feel sorry for ourselves is to overlook or outright deny the amazing/unlimited amount of God’s love for us!
True self worth is found in knowing who we are according to the Bible AND believing it for ourselves.
Psalm 37:5-6 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. NIV
Are you willing to wait for the Lord to bring about the truth and justice of your circumstances, even if it does not happen in this lifetime?
Psalm 37 is a wonderful chapter about our enemies, for further study read it for yourself and let the Lord speak to you through it.
