Open Heaven 21 May 2024: Love Your Enemies
MEMORISE: Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
READ: Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV)
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
Read Yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
The most difficult instruction Jesus Christ gave to His disciples is probably what we have in today’s memory verse. He wants us to love our enemies if we are to be genuine children of God. What are we to do about this seemingly difficult command? Firstly, you should note that His commands are not grievous (1 John 5:3). Also, when you consider the benefits of being a child of God, you will realize that what the Lord commands is just a little price to pay. Amazed by these benefits, John the Apostle wrote in (1 John 3:1):
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
The commandment of the Lord to love your enemies is not just a New Testament doctrine. God commands us to do so because He is love Himself (1 John 4:7). He loved us even when we were in His enemy’s camp as sinners (Romans 5:8), and since He has commanded us to be perfect even as He is (Matthew 5:48), it means that we have to be like Him in all things (Ephesians 5:1), even in loving our enemies.
Why is it so important to God that you love your enemies? One reason is that it practically reflects the true nature of your Father, showing Him to be different from what the devil portrays Him to be (Genesis 3:1-5). When unbelievers experience such uncommon love from you, they are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that your God is good. Many people testify that they gave their lives to Christ because of the benevolent acts of Christians. Your perceived enemies today may be your best Christian brothers and sisters tomorrow if only you will heed the Lord’s instruction to love them.
Through your love, their wickedness will melt away. One of my relatives, who was an idol worshipper and was well known for his wickedness, decided to follow me to church when he experienced the goodness of the Lord flowing through me into his life. When he was confronted by others as to why he abandoned his deity and foolishly followed me to serve the Lord, he confessed that he was left with no other option but to join me in serving Jesus Christ because of the love I had shown him. He asked those questioning his decision, “Can’t you see how my life has been spiritually and materially transformed?”
Beloved, be good to your enemies and never repay them with evil.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Love those that hate you.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 4-7
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Love Your Enemies – written by Pastor Enoch Adeboye
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Open Heaven 21 May 2024
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