Lord: I'm Having a Real Hard Time
with that Verse

Read Time: 9 minutes

Are there some verses that are just hard to accept or do? I know God's Word is His Will. I know that if I obey the Word of God the best outcome is reserved for me. But there are some verses that just seem impossible to obey.

Matthew 5
:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
     do good to them that hate you,
     and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
     for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
     and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you...

There are some people that do some pretty awful stuff. Why should I love them? That word 'Love' is agapao the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. Jesus Christ was the greatest example of the love of God. He always did God's will. When the Pharisees came to arrest him and put him to death don't you think there were some evil people there? Peter was ready to fight and he cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus Christ healed the man. Was Peter justified? They were coming to take Jesus Christ away. As we look at the situation with our worldly views, sure he was justified. But God had a different plan and Jesus Christ was going to trust God. He was going to do God's will, and that was to go with them.

We tend to think that anger and hatred is completely justified when aimed toward someone that abuses others or their power over a group of people. That is, anger and hatred is justified according to man's standard. But not according to God's view. Vengence is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord, Romans 12:20.

Let's let God elaborate on that a bit:

Romans 12
:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
   [put anger in it's right perspective]
     for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:
     for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

So how do I overcome evil? Or more precisely worded: how is evil overcome? Evil is overcome with good. I am not really the one overcoming evil. That is God's job; I just do His will.

I Peter 5
:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
        that he may exalt you in due time:
:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
:8 Be sober, be vigilant;
        because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
        walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, [therefore, stand against him, being steadfast in faith]
    knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
        after that ye have suffered a while,
    make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

It is imperative that we live in His presence, clothe ourselves with humility toward God for he will exalt us in due time. We must cast all our care upon Him. Then, what is the next verse?

:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
    as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

There is a direct correlation between harboring and feeding your cares, your frustrations, sorrow, envy, strife, and our adversary, the devil, seeking whom he may devour. We must let go and let God perform His mighty work and healing in our lives.

God will take care of things.  God will cause peace to reign in your life. Thinking evil, envy, strife, anger, wrath, let this not be once named among you.

Ephesians 4
:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,
   that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
   through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
   to work all uncleanness with greediness.
:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
    which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
:24 And that ye put on the new man,
    which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour:
    for we are members one of another.
:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
:27 Neither give place to the devil.

There is a two-fold meaning behind "let not the sun go down upon your wrath". This verse is in the context of being renewed in the spirit of your mind and putting on the new man. God and you can squelch the wrath in you; make the decision and let God work. Secondly, take the matter up with the one you are angry at if possible. Sometimes it is not possible.

:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
    but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,
    be put away from you, with all malice:
:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
    even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

God tells us this to our benefit. And He will assist us in doing it.

I am also reminded:

I Peter 38
:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
     love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
:9 Not rendering [giving back] evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
     knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
:10 For he that will love life, and see good days,
     let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: [deceit]
:11 Let him eschew [turn away from] evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
    and his ears are open unto their prayers:
     but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye:
     and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
:15 But sanctify [set apart] the Lord God in your hearts:
     and be ready always to give an answer to every man
     that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

If I am emulating the world in the hatred, strife, evil speaking, complaining, and murmuring, will I not receive the consequences of unbelief? The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, so, if the Lord is against them, what do I need to be concerned with. What am I to do in contrast? Give back blessings instead of evil for evil.

Do you want to love life and see good days? Take care that you don't speak evil or deceit. Turn away from evil; seek and pursue peace.

Back to that seemingly impossible verse, love your enemies. I came to realize that it was not in my capacity but it is in God's, He even told us: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. " Philippians 4:13   Through Christ which strengthens me I can love. God show me.

The love of God takes a decision. When you are born again you have Christ in you the hope of glory, and it is God in Christ in you. When you make the decision to love people with agape, the love of God, God works in you to will and do of His good pleasure.

I know it is not in me to forgive great wrongs or love my enemy, I've been there. But it is within God's ability and He works in us.

The single most important reason to love your enemies is for you. It is not for them, it is for you. If you are hating, back biting, and complaining you are allowing the adversary to destroy your peace and fellowship with God.

There is a direct correlation between harboring and feeding your cares, your frustrations, sorrow, envy, strife, and our adversary, the devil, seeking whom he may devour. We must let go and let God perform His mighty work and healing in our lives.

God will take care of things.  God will cause peace to reign in your life