Tag Archives: enemies

April 24
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Uncategorized Aside

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:20-21, NIV)

What may be regarded by the common person as foolishness is tactical brilliance in the eyes of God.

Today’s scripture is a blueprint for how the Christian disciple is to engage his or her adversary.  The benefit of this counterintuitive approach is two-fold: (1) It confounds the enemy beyond words, and; (2) It assures the positive notice of our heavenly father.

To act in this way toward our enemies requires faith in God, and courage. Do not be ashamed or afraid to stand firm and fast wherever it is that God has directed.  – Luther

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March 28
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Uncategorized Aside

“These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): The five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.”  (Judges 3:1-4, NIV)

In the life of a disciple of Jesus, even one’s enemies are a part of God’s plan.

In today’s scripture reading from the book of Judges, enemies existed to teach the descendents of the Exodus how to defend themselves, and to test their devotion to God. (Please see Judges 2:20-22.)

Today, our biggest threat is not the sword (although physical threats do, indeed, exist); it is, instead, all of the influences and agents that oppose the spirit of God within us.  Even here we must pray for our enemies as we utilize the weapons of the Holy Spirit, which are: Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. (Ref: Ephesians 6:10-18)

So, do not curse your enemies.  Pray for them.  (The more your enemies vex you, the more you should pray!)  Resist, defend, and attack with the weapons of the Holy Spirit, which alone are adequate for spiritual warfare.  The victory has already been won.  Wait for it.  – Luther

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