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Seekers for Jesus. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
Читать онлайн.Название Seekers for Jesus
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781681677668
Автор произведения R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
Жанр Религия: прочее
Издательство Ingram
Visit us at www.rhboyd.com for Bible Quiz
It’s important to understand that Jesus is not advocating for us to be doormats. He isn’t saying to roll over and let others treat you however they want while you sit there and take it. If someone is physically hurting you or a loved one, go to a trusted adult for help. If someone is verbally abusing you at school, talk to a teacher or guidance counselor. It’s okay to stand up for yourself; no one has the right to violate you or your body. Today’s lesson refers to situations such as bullies teasing you for going to church, spreading rumors about you, or taking things out of your locker. While none of these are good and they certainly don’t make you feel good, you are not physically being harmed. You can pray for those bullies, speak blessings over them, and repay their evil with kindness. These are all excellent ways to demonstrate your Christianity and witness to non-believers. With enough prayer, and thanks to God’s ability to move on the hearts of your enemies, one day they could even become your friends.
Has something like this ever happened to you before, or to someone you know? Remember that when you look at someone through Jesus’ eyes and see them how He does, it becomes easier to love them. Remember that you, too, are a sinner saved by grace; Jesus chose to love you and chooses to keep loving you every day. In return, we can pass along that love to others. You never know what’s going on in the life of a bully because you can’t see behind the scenes. Your act of kindness and love might be the only one they experience that day. In this way, Jesus can use you for His glory and power. Isn’t that an encouraging thought? Try to remember this on days when loving your enemies is particularly difficult.
Judy was fuming when she walked in from school.
“What’s wrong, baby?” her dad asked, peeling potatoes.
Judy grunted as she threw her book bag down. “Tina started this horrible rumor about me at school! She told people that I wet the bed, can you believe it? By the end of the day, everyone was pointing at me and whispering.” Judy crossed her arms. “It was completely humiliating, and I don’t know how I’ll show my face tomorrow.”
“That’s terrible!” Dad said. “I’m so sorry, baby girl.”
Judy sniffed. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just start a rumor about Tina tomorrow and get even.”
Judy’s dad stopped what he was doing. “Now wait a minute. Is that how we’re supposed to deal with our enemies?”
“Maybe not,” answered Judy, “but it sure would make me feel better.”
“We don’t make decisions based on how we feel,” said Dad. “We make them based on what the Bible says. Pastor was just talking about this a few weeks ago, remember? We’re to love our enemies and be kind to them. Kill ‘em with kindness, as they say.”
Judy sighed. “Okay. Can I make some cookies to give Tina?”
Her dad grinned. “That’s my girl! I’ll even help you.”
In today’s passage, Jesus instructed His listeners to love their enemies and be nice to those who hated them. This goes against our nature, and it’s a counter-cultural idea. It would be easier to just be nice to those who are nice to us, right? While that’s easier, it’s not the way Jesus intended us to live. We would be no different from the rest of the world if we did that. How would people know the difference between believers and non-believers?
This radical way of living like Jesus did is a testimony to the work of God in our hearts. Think of a time when you showed love and kindness to someone who ignored you or was mean to you. How hard was that to do? How can you show kindness to an enemy this week? Have you ever heard the phrase that Judy’s dad used—Kill ‘em with kindness? What does it mean to you, and what do you think Jesus would have to say about this instruction? Is this something we as Christians should practice?
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