January 22, 2025, the 22nd day of 2025
Rain on the Just and the Unjust
One of the reasons we are to love our enemies is because we are to be like God, caring for the just and the unjust, bringing th... View MoreJanuary 22, 2025, the 22nd day of 2025
Rain on the Just and the Unjust
One of the reasons we are to love our enemies is because we are to be like God, caring for the just and the unjust, bringing them the sun and needed rain and not targeting them for harm.
Since love is an act, not an emotion, it is something tangible that others can understand, caring when in need and not sending harm just because that is what they have done to us.
Anyone can understand how the rays of the sun can warm a chilled heart, and how the rain can quench a parched land. People can be like that, chilled and parched inside. And they will never find the help to turn from evil, from the evil.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father 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.
Matthew 5:43-45
The tine will come when the evil and unjust will be punished, but that is in God's hands.
Unless God has put us in the legal position to do something about it now, or we are in the military, fighting the enemy, we set aside our desire to make them pay.
For most of us, it is a matter of our heart, how we choose to think and to act--like a child of God, or not.
If we want to live as Jesus teaches then we do not seek to harm them, even in our thoughts. We do not scheme evil against them, even in our mind. Instead we pray that they find repentance and turn away from their wicked ways, turning instead to Jesus, Who can cleanse them and free them from the bondage of sin.
That is how we snuff out evil.
But if we harden our hearts, we will corrupt even our own good.
If we dwell on the wrongs done to us and fume, we will cause our hearts to darken.
"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:19-21
There is something called common decency, where even enemies on the battlefield do not cause the fallen more harm, but rather treat their wounds. Even if later they will be taken to a prisoner of war camp, they are not harmed once unable to fight anymore.
We do not reward the enemy. We do not let the enemy go free when they are captured, but we treat them with human decency, even if they do not do it for us. It is one of the differences between the righteous and the wicked.
We are not responsible for the vengeance, that is God's part. We are responsible to be His children in this world and not fall into the trap of the wicked ways of the enemies.
We do not need to make pals out of our enemies. But we should tend to them when they are in need. And we can, and should, pray for them. They are in great need of God's touch.
And since the greatest blessing of all is salvation, we can pray for their soul.
Stay strong! Don't let evil overcome you, but overcome evil with good!
NAN
