How do I love an enemy?

[Guest]

I know I have lost my way, by not yet conquering anger. It still lies latent within me. Yet I battle with it, I know I must. I put it in prayer at Christ's feet, knowing He will help me. When I was alone, God alone knew how I felt. He knows the reasons and He alone has the solutions. 

[CaptWalker]

Don't be so hard on yourself...anger may seem like a very bad thing to struggle with but in my opinion there are even worse sins such as alcohol/drug abuse, pornography addiction,etc or simply never really praying much about any of your "issues", which i am guilty of myself. Either way there is such a thing called Righteous indignation, where God does allow you to be angry about how certain people behave or what is going on all around you. Just today i was almost run off the road TWICE, and i can really only thank God that i had quick enough reflexes to avoid a major accident, or else it could have turned out a lot different, and i most likely would not even be able to post this right now. But regardless, these things do happen and the one at fault for your anger is the one who causes it, and even if you forgive that person it still doesn't always make the anger go away. And actually i feel God will only judge us for not forgiving those who ask for it, just as He expects us also to repent, and so an extra blessing is on those of us who readily forgive even without anyone asking for it who has offended you.     

Edited January 12, 2022 by CaptWalker

[enoob57]

22 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

We are only human, this is a very hard command. I could do with advice. 

When I was bereaved a few years ago, a certain person in my life showed cold shocking contempt, kicked me further in my pain, loneliness and grief. This was someone who I always assumed that I could trust. I have since rebuilt my life but never forgotten what it felt like to be vulnerable, scared and be treated like that on top. The person and I never spoke again. 

Now I hear that this person has met with great catastrophe. Their marriage has ended due to adultery of their spouse. A sordid affair means divorce, great pain etc. A bereavement really. 

I am being honest here, I do not know how to feel any sympathy for my enemy. My feelings have ranged from numbness to rage over the years, and now I feel it is good that they will know what grief and deep uncertainty and fear for their future feels like. 

I am not proud of this. What shall I pray - which Bible verses will help? 

God, through His Word, has given us council in how to renew our hearts and minds to proper motivational thinking... the very first thing, loved one, is to make sure God The Holy Spirit is within us thus we have an assurance of a place within to build everlasting substance formed by God's Word alone! Essence isn't spoken of much but it is the reality that you are either of this world or born anew of God. I can't believe this but this is the third place I have pasted this, this morning:
 

God's Word is what The Holy Spirit uses in these last days to build His Church... whenever His Word becomes more precious to you than your necessary food then you have begun on the narrow path of life... whenever you actually see obedience to His Word's precepts requiring self-denial and you experience the doing so anyway >(without the work itself being anything to consider)< only the satisfaction of Love for God in the essence of His Word the motive and fulfillment-> then you have The Holy Spirit's witness that you are God's child...
John 14:21 (KJV)

[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

That manifestation is the transmission of what the Word says into the heart and mind of His children...

Whenever that which is created becomes more of a reliance then The Word of God then you have left the narrow path and are journeying on the broad path that leads to cessation of substance... New birth can only feed on The Word of God and good nutrition is key to a healthy s/Spiritual body able to mature in the precepts and understanding of the everlasting ... 

You want to be assured that you are known by God then fill yourself with His Word for it is written He knows said Word:
Luke 2:46 (KJV)

[46] And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

[47] And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

this at age twelve...

The completed promise of God to us:
John 15:15 (KJV)

[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Matthew-Revelation the completed Word from The Father holds the eternal forming of s/Spiritual life into the everlasting as His Word has taught us... knowing all this is stated and true from God's Word (Whom cannot lie) this
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)

[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

If you do not understand the sufficiency of Scripture and are relying on experiences, intuitions, feelings you are not on the narrow path of His Word... but on the broad path of cessation of substance...

I hope this helps in your quest to be like God and to love your enemies!

[Guest]

I feel a peace now. As if God has dealt devastatingly with my enemies. My Lord has always been with me, no matter what else. Those who seemed so strong while I was so weak are now suffering themselves.

Their punishment is not of my doing. I just thank God for always helping me. 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by Melinda12

[kwikphilly]

23 hours ago, Melinda12 said:

We are only human, this is a very hard command. I could do with advice. 

When I was bereaved a few years ago, a certain person in my life showed cold shocking contempt, kicked me further in my pain, loneliness and grief. This was someone who I always assumed that I could trust. I have since rebuilt my life but never forgotten what it felt like to be vulnerable, scared and be treated like that on top. The person and I never spoke again. 

Now I hear that this person has met with great catastrophe. Their marriage has ended due to adultery of their spouse. A sordid affair means divorce, great pain etc. A bereavement really. 

I am being honest here, I do not know how to feel any sympathy for my enemy. My feelings have ranged from numbness to rage over the years, and now I feel it is good that they will know what grief and deep uncertainty and fear for their future feels like. 

I am not proud of this. What shall I pray - which Bible verses will help? 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessings Melinda

    Praise Jesus that you are so honest & seeking advice ......good for you dear one.  I'll tell you how it has been soooooo easy for me to LOVE -mind you I did not say "like" -lol

   Is this person Saved,it does not sound as though they are ,being so filled with hatred & contempt for another human being....Of course you know the fate of the unbeliever,right? This is all I see when I look at an enemy,I see what awaits them & I dont believe there is anything a person can do on this earth that warrants being tormented for ETERNITY-perhaps a thousand years or even a millenium but FOREVER,thats far too much a punishment for the crimes you have me ntioned,agree?

   Okay ,I hope no one nit picks here-we all know the reason the unbeliever goes to hell & it is not for any crimes -thats not my point ,my point is I can't help but feel compassion & pity for the person & not hatred,I love and pray for them easily because I do not wish to see anyone go to hell

    Now if a Saved person does something against me I cannot help but love them as well,they are NOT my enemy-we have the same enemy  & they need my prayers,my help,my love.....& I'll say it again,I might not like them very much but thats another story!!!!!

    Know who our enemy is & that it is not flesh & blood......this will help too-read Ephesians 6th Chapter                                            With love-in Christ ,Kwik

    Vengeance belongs to the Lord,bitterness & resentment only hurts YOU & no one else

Edited January 12, 2022 by kwikphilly

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Josheb said:

Does that define you?

Does that define you? 

 

Pretty sure the answers to those two questions are going be helpful in understanding how to love an enemy.

The second defines me. I know Jesus is with me no matter all else. 

[Starise]

 

deleted.

Edited January 12, 2022 by Starise

[Who me]

On 1/11/2022 at 4:05 PM, Melinda12 said:

What shall I pray

Pray the prayers you would have loved to know where being said for you.

Send a card saying what you are praying for.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Who me said:

Pray the prayers you would have loved to know where being said for you.

Send a card saying what you are praying for.

I will try. I am reading my Bible more today, praying more deeply and asking Jesus to guide and forgive me, to show me the way. 

I know how damaging anger is to both parties. 

[Marathoner]

Outstanding counsel from @Josheb. If I have anything to add, @Melinda12, it's an example.

First, it needs to be said that the Lord loved me first, even when I was dead in my trespasses. Our brother summed it up perfectly in a different (but closely related) topic: instead of reducing me to a scorch mark upon this earth, Christ gathered me into Himself. The Lord loved us when we were His enemies.

The apostle Paul? He persecuted Christ so the Lord snatched him up into His hand, purposing the chief of sinners to become His chosen vessel. 

We are to be like our Lord, being conformed to His likeness by His Spirit from glory to glory. My practical understanding is thus: being tested... sorely pressed... cast into dilemma... the wind denied to our sails... falsely accused... deprived... and no matter the nature of the trial which comes upon us, to stand in Christ in spite of it all. 

The Lord does not encourage complacency in His sons and daughters. 

Last year, I was the object of a client's wrath here at the homeless shelter. I was mystified as to the reason why this fellow hated me with such passion, but it culminated in an earnest attempt to physically assault me on the job. Fortunately for his sake I am wise to such things, so I was able to remove myself from the situation and deny the fellow the opportunity to face criminal charges on account of his actions.

This enraged him further and so he launched into an expletive-ridden tirade, taunting me in a vain attempt to goad me into granting the desire of his heart. Not going to happen, I calmly informed the client.

"You're already in enough trouble as it is, my friend," I told our client. "I would never press charges against you if it were up to me, but you need to understand that if you did in fact lay one finger upon me, my employer would be the one pressing charges against you. I don't want to see that happen. Why don't you step away and return to your unit? That will give you a chance to cool off and think about this rationally." 

There was a witness to the event and being faithful to discharge my duties, it was necessary to compile a report regarding this incident. Of course, I was tempted to wrath by all of this seeing as how the fellow remained on the other side of the security door ranting and raving like a lunatic. He was going to do this to me and that to me... that's how they did things where he was from. Right then. 

After an hour or so the tantrum ran its course, and the man returned to his unit. I worried for his sake because I knew what would happen the following morning: the program manager (my supervisor) and the case managers would convene a meeting to determine his fate and matters such as assault require expulsion from the program. He would be out on the street again. 

This is a hard lesson, one I learned some time ago: listen to your enemies. Hear what they say, for inseminated in their words you will often discover glimmers of the truth which address their own situation. During his tirade, our client said (edited to be free of expletives  ):

"I'm worthless and useless. I know they're gonna kick me out. I'll go back to Alabama and die there. I deserve it. I deserve nothing!"

This grieved me to hear. Later that evening after my shift at the helm concluded I spoke to the Lord and said, I could be in his shoes, Lord. It doesn't matter that I was never one for violent conduct. I surely did many other things which warranted my expulsion from life. I didn't deserve Your mercy, but You chose to have mercy upon me anyway.

I determined to argue for mercy the next day. When the meeting convened, the program manager stated that she was going to expel this client after we dispersed. When I asked to speak, I advocated for our client and made my case. He deserved a second chance. Give him the opportunity to come before us, I requested. 

It was granted. Over the next seven days our client embraced me... apologized profusely... and was grateful for a second chance. As I suspected, he was undergoing trials of his own... severe trials. We became good friends in the wake of that attempted assault.

The Lord did this for our sake, too.  

Edited January 12, 2022 by Marathoner