GOD'S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 49 SEPTMBER 4, 2001

FEAR GOD: The Benefits, Part 2,
PHRASE OF THE DAY: "LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

Scripture reference: Matthew 5:38-48:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever
shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy
coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow
of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

     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;

     That ye may [show you are] 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.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?
do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more
than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect. "

To be perfect, or to be grown into complete maturity of godliness and character, love your enemies
and do good to them. Bless them. Pray for them.

It is not easy to bless someone on purpose, especially someone who cussed you out or who falsely
accused you. It is not easy to love the unlovely. It is not easy to love people who hurt you and
use you. Hurting people tend to hurt other people. Remember that God is your vindicator. Vengeance
belongs to God. He will repay you (Hebrews 10:30, 31). He will make it right.

Romans 12:19-21

     "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
     unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
     saith the Lord.

     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. [ Your generosity will warm him up.]

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

It demonstrates incredible maturity to love those who hate you and to do good for them. It is
difficult to love and todo good to those who do not love you back. However, you may even end up
winning them for Christ!Your love may warm them up and motivate them to live for God too!Showing
love one toward another demonstrates that we are the sons of God, grown to complete maturity in
godliness and character, like Jesus.

Next time someone hurts you, curses you, despitefully uses you, or hates you, warm them up with
your walk in love, overcoming evil with good. Bless them. Do good to them. Pray for them.
God will repay you.

May we love our enemies and overcome evil with good. Amen.

-Carol Kenreigh

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