Let's read Matthew 5:43-48(NIV)
& Psalm 23:5, 6(MSG) in tandem
Jesus - “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 children of your Father in heaven. 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? And
if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not
even pagans do that? Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
“You serve me a
six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my
drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty
and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God for the rest
of my life”
Secular movies are
to most extent nothing but a reflection of the world’s mindset. The stories,
the plots, the emotion, the drama – all are based on the concept of good versus
evil.
Jesus Christ did
not come to this world to give us a logical conclusion to this never-ending
conflict between good and evil. He came to give us LIFE, and that we might have
it more abundantly (John 10:10).
People around us “persecute”
us in various different ways. A simple synonym for “persecution” is “hostility”.
The world’s line of thinking goes like this – “Anyone who is not your friend, is your enemy, so be careful with him/her;
Show hostility for hostility”.
This “persecution”
could be of emotional, social, intellectual or very rarely physical in nature.
This hostility could come in any form, shape or size and sometimes even from
our very own family/friends. What is our natural reaction to such hostility? –
hate, strife, anger, frustration, seclusion etc.
But Jesus says – “..love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven”.
Make good use of the “priceless
opportunities” that God is giving you to dine (fellowship) right in front of
your enemies, so you can exercise this great LOVE of God and experience His
blessing.
This LOVE is not
logical but magical in nature. This LOVE uses the tool of “persecution” to take
you through the pathway to “perfection”…!!
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