Saturday, January 22, 2011
Luke 6:27-28 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you."
REVENGE IS NOT SWEET -- IT'S NOT EVEN CHRISTIAN
When you visit a zoo and see a sign that reads, "Do not climb on the fence and do not get into the pen with the tiger," you doubtless understand the reason for the warning. I hope you understand that the zoo is not trying to "curtail your personal freedom," it is looking out for your welfare.
When Jesus says to you "love your enemies," he wasn't merely telling you what you should or should not do. He isn't merely giving you a goal for which to shoot. Jesus is looking out for your soul's welfare. These words are spoken because Jesus cares about your soul and wants you to understand that hatred and revenge are dangerous sinful attitudes that threaten our spiritual life. These words are in some ways like the warning sign outside the tiger pen, except this sign would read, "Beware of hatred. Do not avenge yourself!"
Why would we Christians ever need a warning like this? Simply because of our sinful human natures we are more apt to hate those who hate us, wish evil upon them and return evil for evil.
Does it ever happen that you find yourself inwardly calling a fellow motorist "a jerk" under your breath? Have you ever wished that something would happen to so and so; that he'd get what's coming to him; that he'd know how you feel? In our society, in this world, the attitude toward our enemies is one of retaliation. Evil for evil. You hurt me, I'll hurt you.
It is to be different with Jesus' people. The Savior does not want us to hurt ourselves by repaying sin with sin. Instead, He would have us reflect His love.
When the moon rises in the night sky and shines brightly over the landscape, we understand that it is not the source of that light, but merely reflects the light of the sun. We are not the sons of the most High because we love our enemies or do good and hope for nothing in return. This love does not make us Children of God, for the Bible says that faith in Christ Jesus not works of love are what make us God's children, as it is written (Galatians 3:26): " ... you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."
When we love our enemies we show that we have been touched by the love of Christ. For even as the moon's brightness is proof of the sun, so this type of real Christian love is proof of the presence of the Son in our hearts.
