dailywalkinthelight

A Daily a Walk in the Light of God's Word

Archives for September 2018

Love Your Enemies

In the past few weeks, I have had some of my brothers in Christ talk to me about anger issues.  It has been happening so frequently that I am compelled to share this testimony in my blog that I was able to share with most of them one on one.  It is a testimony of how God taught me to deal with my own anger issues.

This message is one that God laid on me when I was struggling with a long time co-worker.  It is also a testimony of God’s love and faithfulness that He showed me when I struggled to believe and obey.

Some Background

I had worked with this individual for years and I knew he had a reputation for trying to trash peoples reputation to the point of impacting their carriers, but I had never been in his sights until I was in his sights.  I am not sure what caused that to happen, but now it does not matter.  All I can say for certain is that it was before I came to know Jesus and it did not go well.  You see I had quite a temper and was not afraid to use it.

The end result was that we steered clear of each other.  We would not even pass each other in the hall if we had a choice.  The anger was not pleasant at all.  I am just thankful that it stayed contained.

The First Step

A year or two later I came to know Jesus and was baptized.  God changed me from the inside out, but this resentment for this person lingered a bit.  It just seemed to fester.  I could not seem to get rid of it.  I knew I needed to forgive him, but at that point in my walk, it was easier said than done.  This guy had made my life very difficult.  Even as I consider it for this post, it brings back unpleasant memories.

In all this God was clear, and I needed to forgive him, and I set out to do that.  Yes, I struggled, but as I studied God’s Word, He showed me a way to overcome this anger and resentment to the point of real forgiveness.

Step 2 – Love Your Enemies

Step two was found in the book of Matthew beginning in the forty-third verse.  The heading of this section was “Love Your Enemies.”  I kind of stumbled when I read the heading.  I remembered it from the bible stories from my youth.  It made me shudder a bit because the first and only guy that came to mind was the person from work.

I had not even read the five verses in the section yet, and I felt certain that this was for my situation, but at the same time, it gave me an uneasy feeling of conviction.  As I start reading this passage I am arguing with God in my head about how could I even manage this, but in the end, (and I cannot remember how long it took to get to the end), I realized how foolish I was being.

Step 3 – Actually Reading Matthew 5:43-48

I finally got past the heading, and I read what Jesus said.

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV Strong’s)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I read verse 43 and was realizing I was doing a good job with that verse, but in verse 44 things took a turn on me.  Jesus replaced that law with a new one.  I was not to hate my enemies anymore, but instead, I was to love them and not only love them but pray for them.

Step 4 – Letting it Soak In

As I read these five verses over and over, I realized His desire was for me was to love as he loves.  The part that struck me as I considered this was that Jesus did not tell us to pray for them to straighten up and fly right or be condemned, or step out into traffic, or transferred to somewhere else out of our hair.  Jesus said to pray for them, and that word “love” at the beginning of the passage indicates to me that I should pray for them in the same fashion as I would a family member that I love, praying for blessings and salvation not fixing.

I have to admit that it did take a while to soak in, but when it did, I was fully committed to it.  I began including this person in my daily prayers.

Step 5 – Implementation

When I began praying for this guy, it was not very easy. I found to do it I had to forgive him.  I had to forgive him in action more than words.  As I continued to pray my animosity toward him went away.  My anger toward him also faded.  Those things I had found too horrible about his character no longer mattered.

Over time our interaction changed as well.  First, we could pass each other in the hall.  Next, we could do so without glaring and then with a nod eventually with even a greeting.

Over the period of a year or so we could speak professionally and attend productive meetings together.  Our interactions became cordial.  The most amazing thing was when I was put on short term disability for my strokes I was in the office filling out some papers, and the guy came to my desk and told me to get well soon because I was needed.  That set me back on my heels with a “Praise God” moment.

Closing Thoughts

I cannot say that every situation will end the way mine did.  But what I can say is that if you pray earnestly for someone, it is very difficult to stay mad at them, regardless of what the person has done to you.  Every time of think of this situation I am filled with thanksgiving and the anger I had for the person is gone.

I do not know about you all, but for me, if I felt wronged by someone, it could be very hard to overcome the anger.  The old man in me wanted his pound of flesh, and it could be messy, but through this experience, God showed me a better way.

It is not always an easy path to follow, but He is faithful and true, and I have found consequences are much better.  When I take that anger and turn it into prayers of blessing for my enemies the weight of resentment and stress is slowly lifted, and my heart is softened, and I feel closer to my Lord.  It seems that anger tends to build a wall around my heart.

Prayer

Father, thank you for this day.  Thank you for your Word and all that we learn from it when we turn to it rather than to our own devices.  Father, let us never forget to pray for our enemies that they too might find hope in your grace and mercy.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!

 

Draw Near

Every morning is an opportunity to start fresh and new.  We wake and the previous day, with all its issues and challenges is behind us, and we survived them.  That does not mean that the circumstances of life or the consequences of our decisions have changed.  It simply means that we have made it through one day and are ready to face another, and HOW we choose to face that day will define how that day goes.

We can face our challenges alone or with God.

Alone In My Work

For many years after I was saved, I continued to focus much of my energy on work.  I pushed myself, and I did not ask God for any guidance or help in it.

I prayed every day in the early hours, and I studied Gods Word before I left for work, and I often tried to study at work, if I would take the time to take a lunch break, which was rare and short usually eating at my desk.  I pushed myself to be the best, and it was not until much later that I realized what motivated me.

During this time I would pray to help with study and understanding the Word.  I would pray to grow closer to God, but I missed everything about rest and rejuvenation.  I prayed, but I used selective hearing when it came to listening to God’s direction.  I think that it got to the point that He stopped pointing out those passages in His Word that would lead me to better set my priorities and left me to manage that on my own as I seemed to prefer it that way.

Choosing No Rest for the Weary

I had gotten to the point that I was wearing down, but I refused to see it OR show it to those around me.    God, Pat and I were the only ones that knew how tired I was getting, but I refused to let up.  I was convinced that the most important thing was the projects I had going on at work and I could not let my coworkers, manufacturing or field sales down.  So I kept on pushing, and things got worse.

I kept working but end up working from home for 3 out of 5 days, but that did not help, other than to keep me off the road.  Finally, one of the days I went into the office things got weird with another screaming headache and this time I my body had decided for me and I went on disability.

Drawing Near to God

When I ended up at home, it was pretty demoralizing.  I was in pretty bad shape.  But I had ordered this Bible study with videos and everything, and it came in the mail within a few days of me being home.  So I started that study.  I could read, and I could listen to videos.  There were a lot of things I struggled with, but these two things still worked reasonably well if I rested and did not push things to hard.

As I started the study, I could not put it down.  In it I grew closer and closer to God and this passage in James came to mind.  “8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8).  Within the first day of this study, I could see how foolish I had been.

I had thought I was doing pretty well with God, but in truth, I had a pretty large chunk of pride I carried around on my shoulder when it came to my work, and I did not see that pride until I lost my ability to do that job.

Humbled

God allowed me to run myself into the ground and in it, he humbled me.  That period of time was when the last bit of my human armor was being stripped away and being replaced with the Armor of God.  In the days that followed I came to better understand that passage better than I ever imagined, but in addition to that, I learned to draw great joy from the verses before and after James 4:8.

James 4:7-10

These passages are not harsh they are powerful and to the point.  They reminded me of who I was and that Jesus paid my debt that I could be saved and pulled from the grip of sin by Him.

James 4:7-10 (ESV Strong’s)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

I read that passage and recognize how unworthy I am to receive such a gift from God.  I am overcome with joy that He who spoke the universe into existence loves me and desires to live with me gave his Son to suffer and die for me when I was wicked.  I like how Paul explained it to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV Strong’s)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 All I can do is say is “Thank you, Jesus! Glory be to God in the Highest!”

Closing Thoughts

There is very little that I can say in closing.  I guess the best thing I can add is better said by Paul…

“6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  (Phil 1:6 ESV).  That fills me with such hope and joy.  I know every day that I put into prayer and study makes that day and the next better than the day before, even if the circumstances may be more difficult.

Strokes are not joyful, even on your best day, but with God, they are much easier to face.  With God, it is much easier to accept where you are and how you will continue forward, even if the pace is different.  With God all things are possible.

You see God prepared me with a Wonderful wife and family as well as a great church home so that regardless of all is good.  I am blessed beyond measure.  I walk a bit slower, and I talk a bit slower, and I struggle with crowds and stress of any kind, but I can study, pray and write a bit slower.

Prayer

Father God, Thank you for all your provision.  Father thank you for everything I give you praise In Jesus name! Amen!

 

I Will Give You Rest

Do you ever just seem overrun.  There are so many “things” to draw our attention from the Word and Jesus that it can get the best of us sometimes if we let it.  They do not have to be bad things.  In fact, for the Christian, they can often be very good things.

These distractions can be big or small, heavy or light, many or few, but whatever they are the adversary convinces us that not to do them is bad and he works to make us feel guilty if we turn away from them even to spend time in the Word… especially if it is to spend time in the Word.  This adversary is a liar, and he has had a lot of practice.  He was the one who deceived Eve in Genesis 3.  This thing that we struggle against is more than a simply a part of life; it is a battle of life and death.

Ephesians 6:12

This battle we find ourselves in, these seemingly inconvenient distractions, are not battles of flesh and blood they are far more sinister.  Paul found them to be so serious that he warned the Ephesians in no uncertain terms.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV Strong’s)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Paul warns us that the adversary is attacking in ways that we cannot see and if we are not prepared, we cannot defend against these attacks.  But he does not leave us defenseless; he reminds us that we have a weapon and we need to use it.  It is the very tool that the adversary strives to deprive us of.

Ephesians 6:13-18

This weapon is the full armor of God.  This morning as I read through Ephesians 6 I just could not help but be humbled by verses twelve through eighteen.  You see, I write these posts as I am studying a topic that touches my heart on any given morning.  This morning it regarded some physical challenges I had been dealing with for months.  Also, some decisions I had made that resulted in the less consistent study.

This passage reminded me that I had let my guard down because God had given me all I need regardless of my circumstances in this passage and I had allowed myself to be distracted from taking His full council.

Ephesians 6:13-18 (ESV Strong’s)

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

I was still studying and praying, but not like I should.  I was not taking up the full armor of God every day.  I was not asking for the help I needed to focus as I needed when I studied until this morning.  Actually, until now.

Reflections

As I meditate on this passage in Ephesians, I am filled with a humble heart.  It is easy to let things get in the way of my goal.  The goal that Paul describes so well in Philippians.

Philippians 3:8-14 (ESV Strong’s)

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Like Paul, this must be my goal always, and I need to be sure that it is always my focus.  If I will stay here in tune with God and pursue this path and live my life, pressing “on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  These distractions will no longer get in my way.

It is not always easy, but Jesus promised that He would always be with us.

Hebrews 13:1-6 (ESV Strong’s)

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

What comfort there is in the Word of God.  He asks so little of us when He has done so much, and He did not wait for us to get our act together to do it.  He loved us in the midst of our sins.

Ephesians 2

In Ephesians 2 Paul reminds us of how much was done for us

Ephesians 2:4-10 (ESV Strong’s)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses*, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

He did all that for us.  Who does something like that BUT God?  Who could do something like that BUT God!  The is even more amazing when you think for just a second how badly we treated Him in our disbelief.  To say we are not worthy is such an understatement it is hard to fathom.  Likewise, the Love of God is so great that, for me, it too is hard to fathom.

I am simply so small, and He is so great, and yet He loves me… He loves us.

Closing Thoughts

This brings me to two other passages with which I will close.  The first one is in Matthew and the second is in 1John.

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV Strong’s)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1 John 5:3 (ESV Strong’s)

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Jesus and John both remind us that the path to salvation is not burdensome.  Jesus reminds us that He will be there with us on that journey.  I take such comfort in these passages.  This is not a challenge where God has laid out things to trip us up.  But there will be trials in this fallen world.  There will be suffering.  Jesus warned that both the just and unjust will face trials.  “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”(Matt 5:45b). But the thing is, those that believe in the Son do not face them alone.  I cannot help but be reminded of this Psalm 121.

Psalms 121:1-2 (ESV Strong’s)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

What joy there is in knowing that Jesus paid my debt so that I might be saved.  There is no greater joy!

Prayer

Father, thank you for all that you are.  That you for Your Word and the reminder that You are our everything.  Give us strength Lord to never let that distraction be so strong that we are kept from our pursuit of You.  In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

*emphasis added

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