Don't Follow the Lie

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But, I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” 

– Matthew 5:43-45

 

Protesters on both sides of the street.  Shouting obscenities at each other, carrying signs about death, hatred, and anger.  Each side believes they are righteous in their beliefs, but their beliefs are polar opposites, or at least they have been taught that they are.  A stranger walks down the middle of the street as both sides watch closely to see which way he is leaning, to know if he will be or will not be accepted into their group.  His characteristics are generic, no color discrimination, no obvious political affiliation, no environmental or gender cause support or protest is evident, and there is no way to know if he is a citizen or not.  They observe with curiosity as to whether to welcome him or not.

He sits in the middle of the road and pulls out a Bible.  He starts reading quietly to himself.  This alone can’t break their curiosity, because both sides of the street claim the scriptures support their cause based on their interpretation.  Both sides assume he’s a Christian, but that doesn’t help them understand if he’s for or against them.  They want to accept him, but they have to be careful.  If he disagrees with one of their positions, or if he likes a certain political candidate, or if he is pro-gun, or pro-choice, or pro-life, or pro-oil, he must immediately be eliminated from their group and added to the hated list.  

He rises from his seated position in the middle of the street and pulls a rolled-up sign from inside his jean jacket.  Both sides look on and believe this is it, we’ll know if he’s with us or against us.  Finally, we’ll know if we can accept him or if we are to hate him.  As he unrolls the sign, they all look on in quiet anticipation.  He lays the sign facedown on the ground and securely attaches it to a long pole.  He straightens up and instinctively looks around before he grabs the pole and begins to lift it high above any of the signs on either side of the road.

The sign is simple.  A cross in the sunset is depicted on the sign, with a dove sitting upon the top of the cross.  Blood is dripping from each of the two sides of the cross beam, and from the bottom of the vertical post.  Across the beam is one simple word in large letters:

I     L  O  V  E    A  L  L

We have gone too far, my friends.  God’s love is for everyone.  You and I must choose to accept and live in it, or choose to follow the world and live in hate.  Hatred doesn’t come from God; it comes from the evil powers within the world.  This Prince of this world is intent on destroying mankind, and therefore must sow thoughts of division, deceit, anger, self-centeredness, pride, and hatred into our everyday walk.  In doing so, he breaks the Christian body into fragments that all of a sudden are battling each other, rather than their one purpose to lift up God Almighty through loving each other.  

The enemy is winning, and many of us are helping him succeed without even knowing it.  Trust in the Lord, with all of your heart, and follow His commandments, His Word, and His purpose.  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

It’s Not All Roses

Read It, Learn It, Live It, Share It

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”  - John 15:18

   The three words that eat away at each of us. If you have children that is, for those of you without children perhaps it's not as daunting. When a child utters the phrase, "I hate you." something is stirred inside. We try so hard as parents to love our children, to keep them safe and advise them on how to avoid the pitfalls that we may have tripped over. Unfortunately our advice often comes across as control and the older our children become the less they want to be controlled. But, it's not just our children who hate us, is it?

Has it happened to you? Has someone verbally stated their anger in a way of hatred? I am constantly reminded through a variety of mediums of those that despise Christianity, even to the point of hatred. I ask myself why. Why do people feel so strongly against Christianity, yet less so against other religions of the world? What makes it so different that it causes such an emotional reaction from some to the point where Christians are being killed for their beliefs even in the 21st century.

I realize it is a very complex situation, but I have a hypothesis. Christ tells us this will happen in John 15. In His infinite wisdom and comprehensive understanding of humanity, He could easily see that the core fundamentals of being a Christian would contradict the human emotion, logic and our desire for control. What are these core fundamentals: servitude, humility, love, justice, faith, accept Christ as Savior and Lord and most importantly that He is the one and only way to the Father. But, to accept that means we must give up control of life and trust in something we cannot see or touch. Taking the gospel as God's truth, based strictly on face value without scientific proof is counter to man's desire for research and hard facts.

To accept Christianity as truth means accepting these things, and thereby accepting that Revelations is equally true. The rigidness and narrowness of following Christ sets it apart from nearly every other religious philosophy where good works, karma, and man's love of self (to name a few) establish eternal status. In the end I believe much of the hatred for Christians (then and now) stems from a fear that it just might be true. This fear leads to actions of abolishing those that believe; by doing so then God's eternal plan can be controlled by man. This sounds an awful lot like it is with our children when we try to control them. We give them advice that will cause the least amount of harm and they rebel. Similarly, our Father in heaven attempts to lead us down a path that is filled with His love and grace, and mankind rebels.

What we learn from Jesus though is to somehow love them, even when they despise and hate us for our beliefs. Jesus was hated by the masses, and took it all to the cross, where he was able to forgive them all.

 

             

© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts

What Did I Do?

"Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal." - Psalm 69:4

The psalmist David, wrote these words of himself. Yet, in reading them, we find the words of our Lord and Savior, found in John 15:25, "They hated me without cause."  In the scriptures the life of Jesus Christ is detailed as loving, helpful and merciful. His ministry lasted no more than 3 years.  What we know of Him is that He taught those around him of God's love and peace.  The world was in need of a Savior, and had been waiting patiently for the arrival of the Messiah.  So, needing Him and wanting Him, what were they afraid of when He arrived?

Have you ever considered why Christ was so hated by the people of Israel?  He entered Jerusalem a week before His death.  He rode a donkey into the city amidst cheers and praises of glory and hallelujah.  Within a week the masses were screaming "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"  In that week, Christ had healed the sick, forgiven the sinful, restored life and challenged the authority of Jerusalem.  It was this authority that knew the scriptures, the signs and what to expect.  It was this same authority that felt threatened by Christ's message of salvation.  As David writes in Psalm 69:4 – “Christ is forced to restore what he did not steal.”  The salvation of mankind was upon his shoulders and his shoulders alone.

In the last 2000 years what has changed?  There are more people today that deny Christ than at any other point in our history, and for what reason?  For His love of mankind or His merciful grace.  He's done nothing against mankind that would cause hatred.  Perhaps, it is similar to the authorities of that day.  Christ does not meet the image that some people are looking for in a Savior.  Or perhaps they feel convicted by His message, so they choose to deny him or hate him.  The love of Jesus Christ is there for them though, just as it was for the masses and authorities in Jerusalem on that day.  Remember the most powerful disciple of Jesus Christ was Paul (also known as Saul of Tarsus).  He hated Jesus Christ and His followers to the point of killing them.  Yet Christ's love and grace, once revealed to him, turned him into the most profound apostle of all time.

We live this life with the opportunity to rest in His grace, peace and love each and every day.  There are those that despite this opportunity; chose not to.  But make no mistake; there will come a day when all mankind will recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior.  In Philippians 2:10 Paul tells us, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”  I fear for those who have; through pride, arrogance and self righteousness; denied Him.  Life will be reconciled once and for all.

Heavenly Father,
I pray for mankind today.  I pray for the hearts of the lost to soften, for their eyes to be opened such that they can see Your love.  I pray that Your grace and mercy are made known to all mankind and Your truth is uncovered before them.  Pour out Your blessings upon this generation that they can become the change agents needed for expanding Your Kingdom.  In Your name I pray – Amen
© Sondove Enterprises, 2011
For More Daily Thoughts: http://www.10minutereader.com/