Thur.s’ Devo - Bless Our Enemies

Read Ro. 12: 18-21 We are to earnestly try to live in peace with all men. This is not always possible. We have friends that are having so much trouble with a troubled neighbor. She seems to be intent on evil and making their lives miserable. We can’t make people like us or be nice to us but that is not what this verse says. It just says that we are to do our part of trying to make peace. God will do the rest. I have another friend who is a single woman who was offended by some inappropriate comments her neighbor made to her. He was someone who did odd jobs and helped her from time to time. When he heard how she took his inappropriate comments he tried to make her feel guilty of thinking bad of him. They didn’t talk for about a year, but she just told me that she is trying to make amends with him and let him start helping her again. They talked things out and have come to an understanding of how his behavior needs to be. I was so proud of both of them. That is a great example of this scripture. Sometimes peace is a process that God has to work over time. David tried to mend things with Saul, but Saul couldn’t conform. God brought about the peace through Saul’s death. David was commended by God because he didn’t seek revenge, only peace. God says that, “vengeance is his”. He repays everyone what is due them. If God is the one who takes care or our offenses then we are free to feed our enemy when he is hungry and give them water when they are thirsty. By doing this it might make them feel guilty and repent, but, that is not the reason we do this. By doing good to our enemies we overcome evil with good just like Jesus covers our sin with his righteousness. So we can comfort ourselves in knowing we are being like Jesus. The results are God’s business. Lord, help us not to be offended easily but see what You are doing in the situation. Give us creative ways to bless our enemies.