DO YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.†Matthew 5:43-44
How are you doing with loving your enemies? Who do you consider right now an enemy in your life? Do you love your prodigal spouse in spite of their behaviors, attitudes, actions and words? Have you asked the Lord to put His agape love in your heart for the other person? The Lord will give you His love as He died for all sinners and wants that other person to be saved also. Never forget that the other person is not the enemy. You may be new, so let me share a scripture that you will want to remember on your most difficult day.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12
You may feel today that everyone does not understand what you are saying about your spouse or about your marriage. Your family and close friends do not want to see you and your children hurting. Keep your eyes on your Lord. Have you learned all that the Lord says about loving your enemies? The next step is that you have to put it into practice!
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.†Luke 6:27-31
It is easy to love the lovable, it is not easy to love the unlovable. It is not easy to turn the other cheek. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour unconditional love into your heart so that you can learn to love your enemies as Jesus did and as the Bible teaches us throughout the New Testament.
“…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?...Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.†Matthew 5:45-46, 48
I know that your heart is hurting, you are feeling abandoned, lonely, and being rejected by your spouse, and by others in so many different ways. I know that often your wife or husband may be saying or doing things that wound you emotionally. God knows your heart and needs. This is truly the beginning of developing your maturity in the Lord. I learned how to do this, by thinking, “What would Jesus do?†It put my thoughts back into proper perspective.
If you enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22
Let God take revenge on your enemies. When you read and study the Bible, you read that the Lord protects His children from their enemies. Here is a key: When God's children cry out, God causes confusion to the enemy while protecting His children. God's wants all of His children to become saved and serving Him. Pray that your husband or wife, other loved ones and friends will become obedient to God's will and way in their life and ask God to bless them. You will be blessed for your obedience to God's Word. This week read Romans 12:9 to the end of the chapter. It truly teaches you about loving your spouse or anyone who is coming against you.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live a peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,†says the Lord....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-19, 21
May you ask the Lord to show you how to love your husband or wife and in-laws who you may consider today are living, acting and speaking as if they were your enemies. Choose every day to live in peace and unconditional love regardless of what others say or do to you. Give them to your Lord to handle. Read Genesis 13:1-18. Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham, chose to live in peace and let Lot choose the property he wanted first.
So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.†Genesis 13:8-9
What would you have said or done to Lot after he picked the best land like, the Garden of the Lord? Now read the scripture below showing how the Lord blessed Abraham because of his obedience to God’s will and way.
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.†Genesis 13:14-17
Every day you and I have a choice to live in unity and peaceful lives. Always believe that nothing is too hard for the Lord to do in your life now and in your marriage. Never stop praying and interceding for your beloved spouse and lost loved ones every day. Then keep expecting the Holy Spirit to change your spouse’s heart. See what the Lord can do through you by touching and changing your behavior, your actions and your attitude, first. You and I can make a difference in this world every day! Now let’s do it!
Put God’s Word into action,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.†Matthew 5:43-44
How are you doing with loving your enemies? Who do you consider right now an enemy in your life? Do you love your prodigal spouse in spite of their behaviors, attitudes, actions and words? Have you asked the Lord to put His agape love in your heart for the other person? The Lord will give you His love as He died for all sinners and wants that other person to be saved also. Never forget that the other person is not the enemy. You may be new, so let me share a scripture that you will want to remember on your most difficult day.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12
You may feel today that everyone does not understand what you are saying about your spouse or about your marriage. Your family and close friends do not want to see you and your children hurting. Keep your eyes on your Lord. Have you learned all that the Lord says about loving your enemies? The next step is that you have to put it into practice!
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.†Luke 6:27-31
It is easy to love the lovable, it is not easy to love the unlovable. It is not easy to turn the other cheek. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour unconditional love into your heart so that you can learn to love your enemies as Jesus did and as the Bible teaches us throughout the New Testament.
“…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?...Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.†Matthew 5:45-46, 48
I know that your heart is hurting, you are feeling abandoned, lonely, and being rejected by your spouse, and by others in so many different ways. I know that often your wife or husband may be saying or doing things that wound you emotionally. God knows your heart and needs. This is truly the beginning of developing your maturity in the Lord. I learned how to do this, by thinking, “What would Jesus do?†It put my thoughts back into proper perspective.
If you enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22
Let God take revenge on your enemies. When you read and study the Bible, you read that the Lord protects His children from their enemies. Here is a key: When God's children cry out, God causes confusion to the enemy while protecting His children. God's wants all of His children to become saved and serving Him. Pray that your husband or wife, other loved ones and friends will become obedient to God's will and way in their life and ask God to bless them. You will be blessed for your obedience to God's Word. This week read Romans 12:9 to the end of the chapter. It truly teaches you about loving your spouse or anyone who is coming against you.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live a peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,†says the Lord....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-19, 21
May you ask the Lord to show you how to love your husband or wife and in-laws who you may consider today are living, acting and speaking as if they were your enemies. Choose every day to live in peace and unconditional love regardless of what others say or do to you. Give them to your Lord to handle. Read Genesis 13:1-18. Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham, chose to live in peace and let Lot choose the property he wanted first.
So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.†Genesis 13:8-9
What would you have said or done to Lot after he picked the best land like, the Garden of the Lord? Now read the scripture below showing how the Lord blessed Abraham because of his obedience to God’s will and way.
The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.†Genesis 13:14-17
Every day you and I have a choice to live in unity and peaceful lives. Always believe that nothing is too hard for the Lord to do in your life now and in your marriage. Never stop praying and interceding for your beloved spouse and lost loved ones every day. Then keep expecting the Holy Spirit to change your spouse’s heart. See what the Lord can do through you by touching and changing your behavior, your actions and your attitude, first. You and I can make a difference in this world every day! Now let’s do it!
Put God’s Word into action,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
