Enemies

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

Ask God to help them;
intercede on their behalf,
and give thanks for them.

1 Tim 2:1 (NLT)

We are urged to pray for everyone.  The "all people" of this verse includes not only family, friends and neighbors, but bosses, political figures and superstars.  And, it includes, most especially, those we may have something against. 

Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies - those who have hurt us in some way.  This is a most remarkable request, one that goes against all of our natural inclinations. It doesn't seem reasonable that we should pray for God to help our enemies, that we should intercede for them or give thanks for them. 

The scripture goes even further suggesting that we not only pray for our enemies, but bless them.  It asks that we do good, lend to them, feed them and give them a drink of water if they are thirsty.  It asks us to replace our desire to retaliate with trust that God will bring his justice in the end. We are asked to replace the urge to talk back with the patient endurance that allows us to hold our tongue, to bless when we are cursed, to appeal gently when we are wronged, returning only good for evil. 

This is the description of an unbelievable and unique new life in God. All of these things are diametrically opposed to what we might naturally feel like doing.  These are hard things to do, but, these are the qualities that God is desiring to build in us.  These are the things that make us like our Father who is kind and does good, supplying the needs of evil and good people alike in the hope that all will respond to his call of love.

Who could you ask God to help today? - A friend, an enemy, a family member, your boss, a politician, a government official, a superstar? 

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, 

love your enemies

Do good to those who hate you.

Bless those who curse you. 

Pray for those who hurt you. 

Luke 6:27,28 (NLT)

Feast

Brian's & My Le's rib feast.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

Psalms 23:5 (NLT)

Jesus came to give us life, a full and abundant life, enjoying all of his good gifts and experiencing his love, joy and peace every day. 

Unfortunately, we are faced with many enemies that try to rob us of this abundant, satisfying life.  These enemies take many shapes; anxiety, depression, self-pity, fear, pride or anger. Our lack of knowledge of God and our lack of trust in him opens the door for these destructive things to take root in our lives.

God knows the temptations we face and so prepares a feast for us in the very presence of our enemies. It is not so much a matter of resisting and fighting against our enemies, but of believing in and receiving his life that makes the difference. He calls us to come and relax in his green pastures and feast at his table.  Just as we take in food and our bodies do the invisible work of assimilation that nourishes every cell and strengthens us, so also with the spirit. As we believe and take in the truth about him and all he is and has done, our spiritual being is strengthened.  The strength of his life begins to grow in us replacing our anger with love, our anxiety with peace and our sadness with joy. 

Jesus told the story of many invited to a great feast who were too busy to come (Matthew 22:1-14).  We need to take time to read, to listen, to meditate upon his words, to come to the feast and see what God has provided for us there.  As we feed upon the truths about God, we will be strengthened to resist those enemies which seek to destroy our souls.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. 

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  

John 10:10 (NLT)

Quiet Waiting

Kokanee Park, Nelson B.C. Canada

 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

Psalms 62:5

A good metaphor for faith is that of rest or waiting quietly.  The clamor of our soul is quieted as we rest secure in trust and the knowledge that everything is in God's loving care and he has the power to work everything out.  We may be surrounded by enemies, things that attempt to distress and disturb our peace, but that is the very time God asks us to lie down, waiting quietly in trust and rest. There in that green pasture he feeds and protects us.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.  

Psalms 23:2

  So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.      Lamentations 3:26 (NLT)

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