Who is My Enemy?
“The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.”
I was watching one of my regular court shows and there were these friends that appeared before the judge because one of them was suing the other one for graffiti. There was a house party and the two neighbors got into an alternation that almost turned physical because they just could not agree on politics…obviously one of them was democratic and the other one was republican.
A few days later, the republican put up a big sign on his front lawn supporting Trump and Pence. Shortly after that went up, someone spray-painted “fascist pig” on the sign and the neighbor was convinced that it was his democratic neighbor.
We are less than 4 weeks away to the US elections! If there’s ever a time when this country is most divided, it is now. Let me start off this post by saying that God does not care what party you belong it. Whether you plan to vote for one party over the other, he loves you just the same.
The bible says a “kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). The enemy has done a really good job at dividing us, by taking the things that make us unique and different and using them against us – whether it’s by party lines, religions, denominations, race, tribe, nationality, etc. Sadly, we have fallen for it.
During my devotion, I was reading the book of Matthew where Jesus was teaching about loving and praying for your enemies. Which brings me to this question – who is my enemy? The dictionary defines enemy as “a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.” If I asked myself if I had any enemies, I’d probably say no. I don’t have anyone any mind that I would consider my enemy. BUT, looking back at this definition, I definitely have a lot of enemies – all those people that I think are idiots because they have opposing views from me – apparently, they are my enemies. Slowly, God started to convict my heart.
Let me give you a more concrete example – the past few days, Trump announced that he got covid-19. I will not sit here and lie and say that I thought he kind of deserved it. Why? Trump was warned about how deadly the virus was at the very beginning and he was very lax in putting measures in place that would have prevented over 200,000 people from dying from the virus here in the US. Instead he downplayed it, refused to wear a mask and made fun of Joe Biden for wearing one. I am justified in thinking he deserved it…then God started to convict my heart, again LOL.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Mathew 5: 44-48).”
People that have done the most outlandish things - those that we think do not deserve our love and empathy, are actually the perfect reminder of God’s grace for us. In God’s eyes, there are no small sins or big sins - before a holy God, any blemish is unholy. We look at the speck in other people’s eyes but forget to remove the plank in our own eyes (Matthew 7:5). God loves the person that you dislike as much as he loves you. He has shown us grace, mercy, unconditional love, and so much more – and our response, is to take that and give it to the ones that do not deserve it because we don’t deserve it either.
About My Outfit:
Pants - Boohoo - similar here // Fuzzy Sweater - Zara - similar here // Shoes - Public Desire - similar here // Bag - Shein
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