God’s Word to You is
Romans 6:27-31
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
I had a Chihuahua next door to us as a kid. He hated me. The bad thing was that due to an incident as a very young child I was terrified of dogs. Considering how many dogs I’ve had since my teenage years I obviously outgrew that fear. But at the time this old, minute, ravaging beast had my number.
His name was Chacho and he was mean plus so old his teeth were rounded, which was good or else his prowess as King of our street may have had real repercussions. He often attacked my feet and ankles as I was out and about if he got loose. Both felt his power, though it wasn’t enough break skin. Because he was so small I honestly tried a few times to get over my fear and befriend him. In hindsight I realize it wasn’t so much that he was mean as it was he was scared.
He loved his owners who were adults and kids. He sat with them, loved on them and yes, protected them. But he was the same with my dad and mom and sisters. He knew I was afraid him so he took to being a bully because he could. He sensed my fear and it made him uncomfortable.
We react to those who are different, who we may fear and those who don’t like us. That reaction is likely avoidance or retribution. It may also be or become hate.
A friend asked me a question a few years after I was saved and doing mission trips. He stood in front of me as we discussed God’s love and drew back his fist and even feinted hitting me. He asked me what I would have done if he had hit me. He said be honest.
I told him I likely would have hit him back.
He then simply said, “ That’s not what Jesus said to do, is it.”
Looking at our country, our world, I see broken people. They are broken people who have come to expect other broken people to be perfect. They want others to understand their own situations but have no regard for what others too may be going through. I see hate, evil, brokenness and selfishness everywhere.
Our challenge, if we really take salvation seriously, is to not be the answer to every problem, not try to fix every evil done and not try to make others bow to our agendas or passions but, instead, be the light. We are to be the difference, not the heroes or solutions.
We are to be His. He is the Hero and solution.
me n’ God love ya