Taking Care Of your Enemies

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.    Proverbs 25:21-22
Oh, sweet revenge! Have you ever had the pleasure of having the upper hand on someone who has done you wrong? You know the one - the  individual, that just the thought of their name makes your blood pressure boil. How you have longed for the day to pay them back for the injustice they have done? And now, there they are - at your mercy. What a feeling! Your mind races with various options to make them grovel, to humiliate them, to show the world how worthless they really are....

But wait. Solomon tells us above to do something totally different. Be nice to them. What? After all these years of suffering and now be nice to them? When I have them in the palm of my hand and able to crush them like the bug that they are? Yes, be kind to them. Paul repeats the guidance in Romans 12:20-21. And goes on to say, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" That's easy for Paul to say. He never met this creature that has caused me such heartache!

And yes, David gives us a physical demonstration as well. Remember his actions of catching Saul sleeping after being chased around the mountains for years? Did he give the mad king what he deserved? Nope, he let him go. Twice. (I Samuel 24:4 andI Samuel 26:8). I am not sure that I could forgive such a man once, let alone twice.

And Jesus recognized my weakness. Therefore he gave specific guidance, especially to me, regarding our enemies in Matthew 5:43-48. And he goes even a step father in that we should pray for those who despitefully use and persecute us.

And does he ever give us an example. On the cross. He prays for their forgiveness. (Luke 23:34) I can not say that anyone has harmed me to the point of taking my life. And here is our Savior giving his life for those who despised him and praying for their forgiveness. Including me and you before our repentance. If we are truly trying to be Christ-like, he forgave us - why can't we forgive others? It makes my anger and hatred seem petty.

Do you have someone in your life that has caused you pain and suffering? Why not pray for them today? Seeks God's grace to allow you the strength to forgive them as well. Then we can understand Jesus in verse 48 saying, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".

Oh sweet forgiveness! As we bask in the knowledge of being forgiven by our Savior, lest us share forgiveness with our enemies.