Oh, my, Father, I am in slow mode this evening! After a very active day, my body is putting up a bit of a fuss. Help me to hone in on You, leaving everything else behind. Amen.

Romans 12:14,20 (<<click here to read the passage)

Are you aware that the Bible has quite a few anomalies? First, an anomaly is defined as something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Verse 14 is one example of an anomaly.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. NLT

And a few verses later there is another.

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
….If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
….burning coals of shame on their heads.”

For a moment, think about how the world would respond to these commands. When we think about those who persecute us – our enemies – the standard response is not to bless them. The normal response is not to pray that God will bless them. And we most certainly should not be expected to feed them or give them something to drink if they are hungry or thirsty! …right?

It might be easy for some to look at, especially the last passage, and think, “Well, Jesus didn’t say this…this is Paul… If Jesus had said it…maybe I’d think about it…”

Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 6:27-28,

“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. AMP

Hmmm…now what? I think we can all agree that our world is replete with, full of, packed and stuffed, bursting and overloaded with hate. When it comes to those who oppose us, think differently than we do, look differently than we do, or take a different viewpoint than we do – philosophically, politically, or Scripturally – love is most assuredly not the first word that comes to mind and is definitely not our first response. …and in that we are wrong…plain and simple.

You may disagree with me, but when on that final Judgement Day we stand before our Lord and Savior…what will we have to say then?

“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.” – Jesus, Luke 6:27-28 NLT

Aug 8th, 2023, Tues, 8:22 pm